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Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, left, and Barack Obama attend a 2007 rally for Chicago's 2016 Olympics bid.

"The president-elect agrees with [Illinois] Lt. Gov. [Pat] Quinn and many others that under the current circumstances it is difficult for the governor to effectively do his job and serve the people of Illinois," Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs said.

FBI agents on Tuesday arrested Blagojevich and his chief of staff, John Harris, on federal corruption charges related in part to the selection of Obama's successor to the Senate.

Obama's former partner in the Senate, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, has also called on Blagojevich to step down immediately.

"Beyond guilt or innocence, the charges against you raise serious questions about your ability to carry out your duties as chief executive of our state," Durbin wrote in a letter sent to Blagojevich. Explainer: Federal complaint against Blagojevich »

Durbin also asked Blagojevich not to name a successor to Obama.

"Because of the nature of the charges against you, no matter whom you were to select, that individual would be under a cloud of suspicion. That would not serve our state, our nation, or the United States Senate,"

Even if Blagojevich named a replacement for Obama, it is unclear whether the Senate would seat the governor's choice. The Constitution gives the Senate the sole authority to decide who is qualified to serve as a senator. Watch whom Blagojevich has considered »

Gibbs said Obama also supported legislation that Illinois lawmakers will consider next week to authorize a special election to choose his successor. Explainer: Illinois governors in hot water »

Obama believes the lawmakers should "put in place a process to select a new senator that will have the trust and confidence of the people of Illinois," Gibbs said.

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

Cindy Davidsmeyer, a spokeswoman for Illinois Senate President Emil Jones, said a House committee was scheduled to consider the bill Monday afternoon and then the full House would vote afterward. iReport.com: Do you trust your leaders?

The Senate could consider the legislation as soon as the next day, Davidsmeyer said. Watch what was in the complaint against Blagojevich »

Obama on Tuesday declined to comment on the arrest, saying, "Like the rest of the people of Illinois I am saddened and sobered by the news that came out of the U.S. attorney's office."

Obama also said he had not contacted Blagojevich about his possible successor, adding, "I was not aware of what was happening." Watch Obama's ties to the Illinois governor »

One of the chief architects of a plan to bail out the Detroit auto companies said today that General Motors Chairman G. Richard Wagoner should be forced to give up his post as a condition of receiving emergency loans from the federal government.

Iceland's prime minister said Saturday he has no intention of stepping down over his country's economic meltdown, even as thousands of angry citizens demanded his resignation during a noisy protest outside parliament.

Geir H. Haarde said he intended to lead Iceland through a crisis that has seen the spectacular collapse of the island's high-flying "Nordic tiger" economy - and which he predicted would worsen next year.

"I think it's inevitable that we will have a severe drop in GDP, in purchasing power, in employment," Haarde told The Associated Press during an interview at his office in central Reykjavik. He said 2009 "will be a very difficult year for us."

A crowd of 4,000 to 5,000 people gathered in the bitter cold outside the tiny stone building that houses Iceland's parliament, demanding elections for a new government. Many expressed a sense of shock and betrayal at their country's sudden fall from grace.

Just last year, this volcanic island on the edge of the Arctic Circle topped a United Nations "best place to live" poll. But last month Iceland's three major commercial banks collapsed under the weight of huge debts amassed during years of rapid economic growth. Since then the value of Iceland's currency, the krona, has plummeted, businesses have gone bankrupt and hundreds of people are losing their jobs each week in this nation of 320,000 people.

"Everything's gone to the dogs," said protester Hilmar Jonsson. To illustrate the point, he came to the demonstration accompanied by a Labrador, two Chihuahuas and a silky terrier, all decked out in sweaters of the red, white and blue Icelandic flag.

Anti-government protests that began eight weeks ago have grown larger and angrier, and draw a wide cross-section of Icelandic society. Saturday's crowd included everyone from anarchists in ski masks to young families and retirees.