Sen. Pat Roberts says it's up to the people of Alaska to decide whether Sen. Ted Stevens should remain in office in the aftermath of his conviction in a federal corruption case.

The Kansas Republican is declining to join GOP presidential nominee John McCain in calling for Stevens to quit.

But Roberts' Democratic rival, Jim Slattery, says Stevens should resign immediately. Slattery says Roberts and other lawmakers should force Stevens to leave office immediately.

Stevens is up for re-election next week.

The 84-year-old Stevens was convicted Monday of lying about free home renovations and other gifts from an oil contractor.