German SPD leader urges members to continue in coalition government

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's Social Democrats (SPD) should remain in conservative Chancellor Angela Merkel's ruling coalition despite a dispute over the ousting of the country's domestic intelligence chief, SPD party leader Andrea Nahles wrote in a letter to members. Nahles said Interior Minister Horst Seehofer's decision to transfer domestic intelligence chief Hans-Georg Maassen to the interior ministry was a "further burden" for cooperation within the coalition. But she added in the letter, seen by Reuters: "The SPD shouldn't sacrifice this government because Horst Seehofer employs a civil servant who we consider to be unsuitable." (Reporting by Holger Hansen; Writing by Michelle Martin; Editing by Paul Carrel)