WASHINGTON — A senior U.S. diplomat says that the Obama administration played no part in General Motors decision to keep its European division Opel.

Assistant Secretary of State Philip Gordon told reporters Friday that "the U.S. government not only was not involved in this decision, but was unaware of it before it was announced."

GM announced its decision Tuesday, just after the departure from Washington of German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The decision stirred anger in Germany, which had backed a deal for GM to sell a majority of its European operation to a group led by Canadian auto parts maker Magna.

Gordon emphasized that despite a U.S. government bailout of the auto company, "GM is a private company."