Likely US Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama and former rival Hillary Clinton are in a meeting at her home in Washington, news media report.

CNN reported it was "a small meeting" with perhaps just the two senators and a few aides in attendance.

There were no details of what was being discussed.

There is intense speculation Obama might pick Clinton as his running mate for November's presidential election against Republican John McCain.

Obama has said the process would take time.

Clinton, who has expressed an interest in running as vice-president, sought to distance herself earlier today from efforts by supporters to convince Obama to pick her, saying the choice was up to him.

Obama, an Illinois senator, clinched the Democratic nomination on Tuesday. Clinton, a New York senator and former first lady, did not immediately concede but told supporters in a letter she would formally back Obama at the weekend.

The meeting with Obama was initiated by Clinton after a daylong series of talks between their aides, The New York Times reported on its website.

Obama had been scheduled to fly back to Chicago after a rally in northern Virginia but stayed behind for the meeting, shedding his campaign plane and the travelling press corps and entourage, the newspaper said.

Reuters