Opel works council chief expects GM decision today

FRANKFURT -- The head of automaker Opel's works council in Germany says General Motors Co. is likely to announce its plans for the company's future Thursday afternoon.

Klaus Franz, speaking on broadcaster ZDF's Morgenmagazin TV program says he had some hints as to GM's decision, but at the moment they amounted to "reading coffee grounds."

"A decision is coming, but what's more important is what the decision is," he says, reiterating his support for the bid by Canadian auto parts maker Magna International and Russian bank Sberbank.

"If it stays with GM, or it goes to any decision other than Magna, that will result in protests," Franz said. Opel employs about 25,000 workers in Germany.