London  - A waxwork of US president-elect Barack Obama was unveiled Thursday at Madame Tussauds waxwork museum in London, where US citizens will have free entry on inauguration day next Tuesday.

Obama's wax likeness has him standing, arms crossed, in a recreation of the White House's Oval Office, complete with the desk and the carpet embossed with the presidential seal of office.

Liz Edwards of Madame Tussauds said it had not been easy to create the figure, as studio artists had to rely on photographs and research.

"As you can imagine Obama has been incredibly busy during the election process and since. So we have to make our figures, when we are not lucky to have them sitting in our studios, through hundreds of photographs and extensive research."

Artists worked with clay moulds to create the likeness of Obama, along with a planned waxwork of his Republican rival John McCain, she said.

Madame Tussauds is offering free admission to US citizens on Tuesday to mark the new president's inauguration. (dpa)