Blagojevich vows to fight charges

Scandal-hit Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has told reporters he is innocent of any crime and will not be resigning his position.

Mr Blagojevich was arrested last week and charged with attempting to "sell" Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat.

As governor of Illinois, Mr Blagojevich has sole responsibility for picking Mr Obama's successor in the Senate.

Mr Blagojevich, who had not previously spoken in public about the charges against him, vowed to clear his name.

"I am not guilty of any criminal wrongdoing," he told reporters.

"I intend to stay on the job - I will fight, I will fight, I will fight."

In a brief statement, he told reporters he would fight the "false accusations" made by what he termed a "political lynch mob".