The Swedish government reiterated it doesn't plan to put money into General Motors Corp.'s (GM) Sweden-based Saab Automobiles unit, government official Joran Hagglund told Dow Jones Newswires Friday.

Hagglund, a state secretary in the Swedish Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communication, made his comments after Saab earlier Friday said it had applied for creditor protection so that it can be reorganized, and that it will seek to become fully independent from GM.

To accomplish this, Saab said it will look for fresh funding from private and public sources.

Hagglund said it was still possible the state might offer guarantees for loans or salaries.

The state secretary's statements echo similar remarks on Saab from government officials earlier this week after GM said it was looking for aid from Sweden for Saab.

 
   Government Web site: www.regeringen.se 
   Company Web sites: www.saab.com; www.gm.com 
 
   -By Ola Kinnander, Dow Jones Newswires; +46-8-5451-3097; ola.kinnander@dowjones.com