US president-elect Barack Obama said he would resign his US senate seat effective on Sunday as he focuses on his transition to the White House.
"It has been one of the highest honours and privileges of my life to have served the people of Illinois in the United States Senate," Mr Obama said in a statement.
Mr Obama, who will be sworn in as president on January 20tu, said he would "leave the United States Senate and begin the hard task of fulfilling the simple hopes and common dreams of all Americans as our nation's next president".
This means Mr Obama, who has served four years of his six-year term, will not participate in the next week's post-election Senate session. The Democratic-led Senate is hoping during the session pass a possible rescue package for the struggling motor industry and an economic stimulus package.
Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich, a Democrat, will appoint a successor to finish out Mr Obama's term in the Senate.
Reuters