North Carolina ? American International Group Inc. said Tuesday it is limiting how much it pays its top executives, including granting a $1 salary for this year and the same for 2009 to its Chief Executive Edward Liddy.

The decision is one of many broader moves made by the troubled New York-based insurer, which has been under pressure to restrict executive pay since accepting billions in government assistance to save it from collapse. AIG has received about $150 billion so far, more than any other company.

It was once the world’s largest insurer with customers around the globe, and regulators feared the possible effect an AIG collapse would have had on the world’s financial system.

The company said there will be no 2008 annual bonuses and no salary increases through 2009 for AIG’s top seven officers and no salary increases through 2009 for the 50 next-highest AIG executives. In addition to his $1 a year salary, Liddy will be getting an unspecified amount of stock.

AIG shares were unchanged at $1.77 in Tuesday trading.