The German Chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder, and his opposition rival have taken part in a live televised debate that could have a decisive impact on next month's general election.

It is the first event of its kind to be held during a national election campaign in Germany.

There is huge media interest in the debate

More than eight million Germans were estimated to have watched what has been described as a gruelling 75-minute debate.

Chancellor Schroeder and his Christian Democrat rival Edmund Stoiber entered a studio at Berlin's Adlershof media centre by separate doors and stood behind two frosted-glass podiums.

Both men answered questions from moderators and there was no studio audience.

In a confident start, Chancellor Schroeder remarked: "When I look at the latest polls I see no reason to quake in my boots."

Mr Stoiber - who has undergone intensive media training for the event - became more fluent as he went on the offensive, attacking the chancellor for Germany's economic problems and high unemployment.

In response, Mr Schroeder sometimes looked annoyed and there were few examples of his humour or media charm.

But neither delivered the knock-out blow he was looking for.

Gap closing

Opinion polls show Mr Schroeder's Social Democrats closing the gap with the Christian Democrats of Bavarian state premier Mr Stoiber.

The BBC's Rob Broomby says the chancellor's decisive handling of Germany's flood crisis - while his opponent continued a holiday on a remote island - and his rejection of participation in an American-led war on Iraq, have paid dividends.

"People observe very carefully how a government reacts in such a crisis, whether they can count on the chancellor," Mr Schroeder said in an interview published on Saturday in the Cologne newspaper Koelner Stadt-Anzeiger.

Mr Stoiber insists that the election will turn on Germany's sluggish economy and high unemployment.

Debate format

While debates have long been part of US elections, German leaders have previously ruled out giving challengers the chance to raise their profiles.

Mr Schroeder agreed to the debate this time because he was behind Mr Stoiber in the polls.

Mr Stoiber, 60, holds one important edge - he is five inches (13 centimetres) taller than the 58-year-old chancellor.

Both Mr Schroeder and Mr Stoiber cancelled campaign appearances at the weekend to prepare for Sunday's primetime bout.

They studied newspapers at home, took part in practice debates with aides, and rested to avoid any appearance of fatigue on camera.

A second confrontation is scheduled for 8 September.