Merkel says 'sad' about Italian referendum result

BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Monday that she was saddened by Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi's defeat in a referendum over constitutional reform. "I am sad that the referendum in Italy did not turn out as the prime minister wished because I always supported his reform policies but it is of course a domestic Italian decision that we must respect," Merkel told reporters. (Reporting by Michelle Martin and Joseph Nasr)