WASHINGTON - PRESIDENT-ELECT Barack Obama's transition office is ready to release an internal review of all contacts his staff had with Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's office over the Senate seat that Mr Obama has vacated and that the governor is accused of putting up for sale.

The report's release, expected on Tuesday, comes as Mr Obama is vacationing in Hawaii. Mr Obama said last week he wants to answer questions about conversations his aides had over filling his Senate seat because nothing inappropriate took place. But he kept the details private while the federal investigation continues.

'We have a report,' Obama spokesman Stephanie Cutter said on Monday. 'It's been ready for release for a week. We've held off at the request of the US Attorney's office and that continues to be the case, though we expect to be able to release the report shortly.'

Aides said Mr Obama had no plans to make a public statement on his internal report while in Hawaii. Last week Mr Obama described the findings of the review as 'thorough and comprehensive' and promised they would be made public this week.

Incoming White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel contacted Blagojevich's office about the appointment, according to a source close to the governor who requested anonymity because the person is not authorised to speak on the matter.

Blagojevich believed Mr Emanuel was advocating Obama friend Valerie Jarrett for the Senate seat so he would not have to compete with her for Mr Obama's attention in the White House, the source said.

The US attorney's office had been secretly recording Blagojevich's calls since October. A federal complaint charging the governor with seeking cash and favours for Mr Obama's vacant Senate seat does not cite conversations with Mr Emanuel or others on the transition staff.

US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald in Chicago said when announcing the charges that Mr Obama was not implicated in the case, and sources have said Mr Emanuel is not a target of prosecutors.

An official familiar with Mr Obama's internal review said the president-elect's team wrote their report without having access to transcripts of the FBI's taped conversations. The source spoke on condition of anonymity because this person was not authorised to discuss the review publicly.

Mr Emanuel has refused to comment on his recent interaction with Blagojevich and his staff. Mr Emanuel succeeded Blagojevich in his House seat in 2002, when Blagojevich became governor.

Mr Emanuel also served as an informal campaign adviser to the governor and has a mutual friend with Blagojevich who has become a key player in the criminal investigation.

The governor at times considered trying to exchange Mr Obama's Senate seat for a presidential appointment, a job for his wife, campaign contributions and donations to a non-profit organisation he hoped to create, according to the complaint.

Blagojevich expressed frustration in one conversation taped by the FBI that Mr Obama and his advisers weren't 'willing to give me anything except appreciation. (Expletive) them,' the complaint quoted him as saying. -- AP