US president-elect Barack Obama Thursday called for the resignation of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, who was arrested earlier this week on corruption charges that included trying to sell Obama's Senate seat, according to dpa. "I do not think the governor at this point can effectively serve the people of Illinois," said Obama, who began his professional career in Chicago and was elected to the Senate from Illinois in 2004. Authorities unveiled a series of stunning corruption charges against Blagojevich on Tuesday, including seeking bribes and political contributions in exchange for Obama's Senate seat. In Illinois, the governor typically has sole authority to appoint people to a vacated Senate seat. The Illinois legislature is now considering a special election instead. Obama insisted he had no conversations with Blagojevich about who should fill his Senate position as he moves into the White House. "Our office had no involvement in any deal making around my Senate seat," Obama said at a Chicago news conference. "That would be a violation of everything that this campaign has been about." Obama did say his transition team was gathering information on any contact his staff may have had with Blagojevich or his office since the November 4 general election and would present it to the public in the coming days.
