PITTSBURGH -- City officials on Wednesday shot down an allegation that Mayor Tom Murphy, when seeking re-election in 2001, offered the fire union up to $12 million in contract demands for its endorsement and agreed to make it look like the result of binding arbitration.

"We did not have a quid pro quo," Deputy Mayor Tom Cox said at a City Council meeting.

Robert Kennedy, director of operations and public safety, joined Cox in refuting union President Joe King's accusation and said the city welcomes an investigation of the 2001 fire contract negotiations.

"Mr. King's statements are the actions of a desperate union boss hoping to divert attention away from the fact that his union has failed to come to the table to make any reasonable concessions during the city's fiscal crisis," Kennedy said in a statement. "This is a lame attempt to distract the citizens of Pittsburgh from the true causes of our financial problems: our outdated tax structure and our bloated Fire Bureau."

Earlier this week, King called on Murphy to resign for allegedly giving his OK to the fire union's demands in 2001 and agreeing to hide the deal by blaming it on arbitrators who rule on contracts.

On Wednesday, King told Channel 4 Action News reporter Bob Mayo that the alleged 2001 discussion with Murphy went like this:

"I says, 'Are you suggesting that we back you for mayor because of this?,' and he says, 'It would be much appreciated.'"

King produced documents that he says show a link between the contract and helping the mayor.

"On the face of it, if what is alleged is true, it is malfeasance in office and maybe more," city Councilman Doug Shields said.

District Attorney Stephen Zappala "has asked to be briefed by the appropriate people on the legal and ethical implications of (King's) statements," according to spokesman Mike Manko.