Barack Obama said today that he was appalled by the secretly recorded telephone calls made by the Governor of Illinois.

The President-elect called for Rod Blagojevich to resign after the FBI released an affidavit apparently recording a brazen attempt by the governor to profit from his duty to name Mr Obama’s successor as Illinois senator.

“I think like most of the people of Illinois, I was appalled and disappointed by what was heard in these transcripts,” Mr Obama said. “I hope that the governor himself comes to the conclusion that he can no longer effectively serve and that he does resign.

“Let me be absolutely clear. I do not think that the governor at this point can effectively serve the people of Illinois.”

Mr Obama said that he had made no personal contact with Mr Blagojevich’s office and that he was gathering details of any contact between the transition staff and the governor’s administration.

“I’ve not been contacted by any federal officials and we have not been interviewed by them,” he said. “I won’t quote back some of the things that were said about me – this is a family programme I know.”

The Illinois Governor was arrested on Tuesday for what prosecutors called a “political corruption crime spree” that included putting Mr Obama’s vacated Senate seat up for sale. “I’ve got this thing and it’s f****** golden, and, uh, uh, I’m just not giving it up for f****** nothing,” he allegedly said in one wiretapped conversation.

Mr Obama criticised the governor yesterday but some critics suggested that his brief statement was not damning enough. After announcing that Tom Daschle would be Health Secretary in his new administration, Mr Obama returned to the subject today.

“Let me say that this senate seat does not belong to any politician to trade – it belongs to the people of Illinois, and they deserve the best possible representation," he said.

They also deserve to know that any vacancy will be filled in an appropriate way. I hope and expect that the leaders of the legislature will take steps to ensure that this is so.”

The Illinois legislature will reconvene next week, it is expected to pass legislation calling for a special election to choose a new senator. State politicians are also considering impeachment proceedings against the governor.

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