German opposition conservatives won a direct mandate in Sunday's national election in east German city of Dresden, expanding its lead over ruling Social Democrats (SPD).

Andreas Laemmel, candidate from conservative leader Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU), gained 37 percent support in the first votes compared with the 33 percent for SPD candidate, and was elected directly into the lower house of parliament Bundestag.

Taking into consideration of the second votes in which SPD got 27.9 percent while CDU had 24.4 percent, CDU/CSU increased one more seat in Bundestag to 226, compared with unchanged 222 for SPD.

Free Democratic Party (FDP), the left party and the Green Party have 61, 54 and 51 seats in Bundestag respectively.

CDU Secretary General Volker Kauder said after the release of the partially counted ballots that the result will put Merkel in a strong position in her bidding for German chancellorship.

The inclusive election in Dresden's district one was postponed for two weeks due to the death of a right-extremist candidate.

Expert believed the by-election could break the deadlock and pave a way for an early solution to who will become next German chancellor.

(Xinhua News Agency October 3, 2005)