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WASHINGTON (AP) - President-elect Barack Obama's appointed successor was turned away when he appeared at the U.S. Capitol to take his seat.

Former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris announced the decision to deny him the seat as he stood before a large throng of reporters and cameras in the rain outside the Capitol building.

Speaking just an hour before the convening of the 111th Congress on Tuesday, Burris said he was looking at a host of options for getting the seat.