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| Obama replacement will be seated | Obama replacement will be seated |
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| Roland Burris will be allowed to take up Barack Obama's vacant US Senate seat, officials have announced. | Roland Burris will be allowed to take up Barack Obama's vacant US Senate seat, officials have announced. |
| Senate leaders had tried to block Mr Burris's membership, because he was appointed by scandal-hit Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich. | Senate leaders had tried to block Mr Burris's membership, because he was appointed by scandal-hit Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich. |
| But Mr Burris's credentials have now been verified to the satisfaction of the senate leadership. | But Mr Burris's credentials have now been verified to the satisfaction of the senate leadership. |
| Mr Blagojevich was arrested last month and charged with attempting to "sell" the vacant seat. | Mr Blagojevich was arrested last month and charged with attempting to "sell" the vacant seat. |
| Under Illinois law, the state's governor has sole responsibility to fill vacancies in the senate. | Under Illinois law, the state's governor has sole responsibility to fill vacancies in the senate. |
| Barred entry | |
| Last Tuesday, when the new Senate met for the first time, Mr Burris was barred entry to the chamber by officials, who said he did not have the correct credentials, because his appointment had not been signed off by the Illinois Secretary of State. | |
| But following a meeting on Wednesday with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on Wednesday, Mr Burris said he was "very happy" and expected to come to an agreement with Senate Democrats. | |
| Mr Reid said that he and his colleague would reconsider Mr Burris's case if he swore under oath that he had not offered Mr Blagojevich anything in return for the job. | |
| On Friday the Illinois House of Representatives voted 114-1 to impeach Mr Blagojevich. | |
| Illinois's state Senate will now try Mr Blagojevich. If found guilty, the governor will be forced out of office. | |
| He was arrested in December and charged with three counts of soliciting bribes, and offering to distribute public funds in return for political favours and campaign contributions. |