MADRID, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Spanish government has rejected the sale of a 20 percent stake in Spanish-Argentine oil group Repsol YPF to Russian energy giant Gazprom, local media reported Thursday.

    In a radio interview, the leader of Spain's main opposition Popular Party, Mariano Rajoy, also voiced opposition to Gazprom taking a stake in Repsol, held by construction firm Sacyr Vallehermoso.

    Repsol YPF President Antonio Brufau said Thursday that Repsol will continue to be a "private, independent and Spanish" company.

    However, Saycr admitted in a statement that since Sept. 12, when it made known its interest in selling the stake, it had had "several contacts with possible investors, with no agreement having yet been reached."