MOSCOW, Nov. 4, 2009 (Xinhua News Agency) -- The Russian government was surprised by General Motors' decision to not sell its European Opel unit to the Magna-Sberbank consortium, a spokesman for Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Wednesday.

"General Motors yesterday's decision to cancel the deal has come as a surprise to Russia in general and the Russian government in particular," the Interfax news agency quoted spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying.

"As for the Magna-Sberbank consortium, according to our information, it intends to hold consultations with General Motors and thoroughly analyze the situation in legal terms," the spokesman said.

Peskov said the Russian government would not be involved in the consultations.

GM's board of directors on Tuesday decided to retain its German Opel unit instead of selling it to Canada's Magna International Inc. (TSX:MG'Z) (NYSE:MGA) (TSX:MG'A) and its Russian partner, Sberbank.