Zaragoza, Spain  - Feared job losses from the possible closure of a local Opel car factory prompted thousands to demonstrate in the northern Spanish town of Zaragoza Saturday.

Local residents are concerned that the full or partial closure of the plant could mean 1,650 of 7,500 jobs disappear in the region. A further 13,000 jobs that indirectly rely on the factory are also at risk, opponents of the closure said.

Police reported no violent incidents during the protest. Organizers threatened with a strike if the plant is not kept open.

The Spanish plant is one of many Opel plants on the chopping block in a proposed deal whereby US car company General Motors (GM) would sell the underperforming German company, Opel, to a consortium that includes Canadian-Austrian auto parts group Magna International and Russia's Sberbank.

Spain would have preferred a sale to the Belgian investment firm RJH International while that company's plans foresaw fewer job cuts in that country. Spanish officials and workers say the plant near Zaragoza is one of the most profitable and efficient ones in the Opel network.

The Spanish government has been critical of the deal and has demanded that the European Commission closely inspect the deal.  dpa