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Germany: Merkel Told Obama Germany Wants GM Plan Soon

BERLIN (DowJones)--German Chancellor Angela Merkel told U.S. President Barack Obama in a telephone call that her government wants General Motors Co. to present its plan to restructure Opel "as soon as possible."

Obama told Merkel in the Wednesday evening call that he wasn't involved in the GM board's decision to keep German-based Adam Opel GmbH rather than sell it to Magna International Inc. (MGA).

Merkel also told Obama that she wants GM to repay funds it holds from a EUR1.5 billion bridge financing offer by the end of November, according to a statement released Thursday by her spokesman.

Spokesman Ulrich Wilhelm said in the statement that Merkel and Obama agreed to continue discussing GM's plans for Opel in the future.

-By Patrick McGroarty, Dow Jones Newswires; +49-30-288-8410; patrickmcgroarty@ dowjones.com

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  11-05-090855ET
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