Germany's Merkel in mourning for father

German Chancellor Angela Merkel was in mourning Saturday after the death of her father, cancelling a planned campaign rally appearance on the eve of a key regional election, her office said. Merkel's office said that the chancellor's father, Horst Kasner, had died at the age of 85. A protestant pastor, Kasner had emigrated with his family from West to East Germany in 1954, a few weeks after the birth of his daughter Angela, ensuring that she was brought up under the communist regime. He had retired several years ago. Merkel had been due to attend a rally in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania ahead of the election on Sunday in the northeastern state.