Germans are set to vote in a national election in which Chancellor Angela Merkel is seeking a second term.
Mrs Merkel is the favourite, though polls suggest she may no longer have enough support to be able to ditch her Social Democrat coalition partner.
Mrs Merkel's conservatives are hoping to form a new alliance with the liberal Free Democrats (FDP).
Security has been tight, after several al-Qaeda messages warning Germany over its role in the war in Afghanistan.
Mrs Merkel's main rival in Sunday's vote is the leader of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and current foreign minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier. read more
