London, December 8 : US President-Elect Barack Obama has pledged that he would not be violating The White House no-smoking rule.

The first African-American to be elected President of the United States, however confessed “falling off the wagon” when it comes to quitting cigarettes.

On being questioned if the 47-year-old, who is set to claim his office on January 20, had won his battle against his 20-year-old habit of smoking, Obama failed to provide a definite answer, reports the Telegraph.

Speaking on NBC''s “Meet the Press”, Obama had been asked: "Have you stopped smoking?"

He replied: "I have. What I said was that there are times where I have fallen off the wagon."

The interviewer, however, interrupted: "Wait a minute. That means you haven''t stopped."

Obama said, "Fair enough. What I would say is that I have done a terrific job under the circumstances of making myself much healthier. You will not see any violations of these rules in the White House."

The Harvard Law School graduate, who has been deemed in excellent health by doctors, had been spotted chewing nicotine gum during the presidential campaign. (ANI)