Illinois governor can still can name senator: official

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich still has the power to name a U.S. senator to fill the seat vacated by fellow Democrat President-elect Barack Obama, the federal prosecutor in the case said on Tuesday.

U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said the governor, who was arrested on Tuesday on corruption charges including trying to "sell" Obama's seat in the U.S. senate, has sole power to name a successor for Obama.

Obama, whose home state is Illinois and who takes office on January 20, left his Senate seat soon after winning the November 4 presidential election.

(Writing by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Frances Kerry)