BERLIN, Oct 5 (Reuters) - A spokeswoman for the Germangovernment declined to comment on a media report on Friday thatmerger talks between Airbus manufacturer EADS andBritish defence group had practically collapsed.

Germany's Der Spiegel news magazine, citing Germangovernment sources, reported in its online edition that Britain,France and Germany, whose approval is necessary for themega-merger to go ahead, had failed to agree.