FRANKFURT/BERLIN: General Motors' decision to keep its European arm Opel after months of negotiations to sell it triggered anger and dismay in Germany, which had led the talks and was putting up much of the cash.

German Economy Minister Rainer Bruederle called GM's behavior "totally unacceptable", while Christine Lieberknecht, the premier of Thuringia state, which hosts an Opel plant, called the decision a "low blow".

German officials who asked not to be named said the decision came as a total surprise to Chancellor Angela Merkel and her advisors during a visit to Washington, where Merkel addressed a joint session of Congress.