(AP-ANSA) - BERLIN - Angela Merkel is reportedly telling her conservative party that she is prepared to step down as its leader but remain as German chancellor. News agency dpa cited unidentified party sources in its report Monday as the leadership of Merkel's party met following a state election in which both her conservative Christian Democratic Union and its partners in the national government, the center-left Social Democrats, lost significant ground. Mass-circulation daily Bild reported, citing sources in the CDU leadership, that Merkel said she wouldn't run again for the party leadership. Merkel's predecessor, Gerhard Schroeder, stepped down as leader of his party in 2004 but remained chancellor. Merkel has led the CDU since 2000 and has been Germany's leader since 2005. The CDU is due to hold a conference in December at which the party's leadership is up for renewal. (AP-ANSA).