CHICAGO (AP):

The governor of Illinois created a new distraction for his state by making an appointment to the United States Senate even while he faces federal corruption charges, accused of trying to sell the very seat he now is trying to fill.

Governor Rod Blagojevich tapped former state Attorney General Roland Burris for the seat being vacated by President-elect Barack Obama, thrusting the 71-year-old political veteran - the first black man to hold statewide office in Illinois - back in the spotlight.

Uncomfortable position

The surprise move puts the governor's opponents in the uncomfortable position of trying to block his choice from becoming the Senate's only black member.

However, the Illinois secretary of state said he would not certify the appointment, the lieutenant governor called the selection an insult, Senate Democrats still say they won't seat him and even the president-elect was cold to the nomination.

"We believe in clean government, and Rod Blagojevich has unclean hands," said Lt Gov Pat Quinn, who called Blagojevich's actions an "insult to the people of Illinois".

Distance his surprise

Blagojevich repeatedly sought to distance his surprise selection from his own woes.

"Please don't allow the allegations against me to taint a good and honest man," the governor said Tuesday, turning to the smiling Burris standing by his side. "This is about Roland Burris as a US senator, not about the governor who made the appointment."

For his part, Burris said he was "humbled to have the opportunity" and promised citizens he would "uphold the integrity of the office and ask for their continued confidence in me".

The choice injected race into the drama surrounding the Democratic governor. Burris, the first African-American elected to major statewide office in Illinois, would replace Obama, who had been the Senate's only black member.