US President-elect Barack Obama said yesterday that no one in his office engaged in deal making with Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich over who would fill the Senate seat vacated by Obama.

Obama told a press conference in Chicago that the vacant Senate seat is not for "any politician to trade," and he said he had never spoken to the governor on the subject.

The president-elect also said he was confident that "no representatives of mine would have any part of any deals related to this seat."

The Senate seat "belongs to the people of Illinois and they deserve the best possible representation," he said.

Federal agents arrested Blagojevich Tuesday on federal corruption charges related in part to the selection of Obama's successor as a US senator.

Federal officials said the governor was looking to sell or trade the position.

Blagojevich went back to work Wednesday after being released on a US$4,500 bond.

Obama has joined calls for the governor to resign. But Blagojevich denied any wrongdoing and vowed to stay on the job.

The Illinois state legislature will begin a special session next Monday to consider legislation that would authorize a special election to choose Obama's successor.