Obama replacement will be seated

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.

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.

Under Illinois law, the state's governor has sole responsibility to fill vacancies in the senate.