Blagojevich was arrested Tuesday morning and accused of, among other things, trying to sell or barter President-elect Barack Obama's vacant U.S. Senate seat for personal or financial gain.

"If Gov. Blagojevich does not resign immediately, impeach him," the Chicago Sun-Times editorial said. "To Blagojevich's way of thinking, the criminal complaint alleges, picking the next senator from Illinois isn't a solemn obligation, it's a sale -- to the highest bidder."

From here on out, any decision Blagojevich makes as the state's chief executive is tainted, a sampling of editorials said.

"Rod Blagojevich may be innocent until a jury finds him guilty, but as a political leader and the governor of a state of 12 million people who deserve better, he is crippled," the Champaign News-Gazette wrote.

Illinoisans are ill-served by Blagojevich's alleged actions, the Chicago Tribune said.

"This moment, though, shouldn't be all about politicians and laws," the Tribune said. "This moment should be about the serially cheated citizens of Illinois, people who pay their taxes and expect honest governance in return. They have to choose better officials. They have to demand more. They deserve more."

Peace prize winner urges Mideast talks STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- The winner of this year's Nobel Peace Prize, Martti Ahtisaari of Finland, says U.S. President-elect Barack Obama should concentrate on the Middle East.

Ahtisaari urged Obama at Wednesday's award ceremonies in Stockholm to "give high priority to the Middle East conflict in his first year in office," CNN reported.

Ahtisaari, who worked on efforts to resolve conflicts from Kosovo to Indonesia and Namibia, added, "All crises, including the one in the Middle East, can be solved," saying the international community also had to put its weight behind the Middle East peace process, the U.S. broadcaster reported.

Stockholm, meanwhile, was decked out to host the Nobel Prize awards ceremony, with more than 1 million Swedes expected to watch the proceedings on TV, officials said.

The weather was expected to stay above freezing in the Swedish capital as the festivities began at 4:30 p.m. in Stockholm's Concert House, and were to be followed by the guests of honor making their way to City Hall for a banquet hosted by King Carl Gustaf XVI and Queen Silvia, the Swedish news agency TT reported.

EU officials replace U.N. in Kosovo PRISTINA, Kosovo, Dec.