UK party pact?

Conservative Party leader David Cameron said Friday he was ready to offer a "big comprehensive and open offer" to the Liberal Democrats to work together after the closest UK general election in decades.

The Conservatives gained the largest number of seats in Britain's lower house of parliament, but failed to secure an overall majority.

Despite losing a large number of seats, the country's Labour Party could also form a government if the Liberals and Conservatives are unable to work together.

Cameron said on Tuesday afternoon that he would negotiate with the Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, who had earlier said he aimed to reach agreement with the party that had the largest number of seats.

At a press conference, the Conservative leader welcomed the Liberal position.

"Nick Clegg has said that, because the Conservative Party won the most votes and the most seats in this election, we should have the chance to form the government and I thank him for that," said Cameron. "So we will now begin talks with other parties, to see how that can be done."

Cameron said that he might seek to form a government with minority parties other than the Liberal Democrats. However, he said, a deal with the Liberal Democrats might provide "stronger, more stable government" adding that his party was prepared to implement mutually acceptable parts of the Liberal election manifesto. Cameron stopped short of offering to offer the Liberals their key demand for reform of Britain's first-past-the-post electoral system.

Brown's 'respect for decision'

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who remains in office for the time being, had earlier spoke outside his official residence 10 Downing Street.

Brown said he respected the decision of Clegg to meet Cameron and said they should "be entitled to take as much time as they feel necessary."

"Clearly should the discussions between Mr. Cameron and Mr. Clegg come to nothing then I would of course be prepared to discuss with Mr. Clegg the areas where there may be some measure of agreement between our two parties," he said.

Brown added that immediate action should be taken on electoral reform.

With the results for 649 of 650 seats declared, the Conservatives had 306, with Labour on 258 and the Liberal Democrats on 57.

Britain's election watchdog launched an investigation on Friday after reports that queuing voters across the country were blocked from casting ballots after the official closing time. The Electoral Commission pledged to undertake "a thorough review” into allegations that officials were caught off-guard by a late surge in voting.

rc/Reuters/dpa/AFP
Editor: Rob Turner