Accused former governor wants to call Obama as witness

Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich’s lawyers have asked a US federal judge to issue a subpoena for President Barack Obama to testify as a witness at his corruption trial.

Blagojevich said in court papers filed by defence attorney Sam Adam that Mr Obama would be able to resolve questions surrounding the government’s allegation that the former governor sought to sell or trade the seat left vacant following the president’s November 2008 election.