Sweden vows to help Saab workers as Spyker deadline looms

The meetings took place just hours before Spyker's new bid was to expire at 2200 GMT today.
"We are discussing the situation as it stood on Friday, when GM announced it would shut down Saab," Swedish Enterprise Maud Olofsson told a press conference.
Spyker's surprise announcement of its renewed bid late yesterday, two days after GM broke off talks with the Dutch group and said it would close down its Swedish loss-making unit, sent Saab's future into limbo.

Olofsson refused to be drawn on the chances of a last-minute rescue, focusing instead on measures to help retrain workers and promising financial aid to Saab's hometown of Trollhaettan in southwestern Sweden.

"We have to start from the decision that GM has taken ... to shut down (Saab). In that case we want to be prepared and show local and regional authorities and employees there are resources, and they do not have to be worried," Olofsson said, announcing various measures along with Employment Minister Sven-Otto Littorin.