Roland Burris leaves Capitol Hill in Washington Tuesday after he was turned away when he appeared to take a seat in the Senate. (Charles Dharapak/Associated Press)

Roland Burris, chosen by embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich to take over U.S. president-elect Barack Obama's Senate seat, was prevented on Tuesday from being seated inside the chamber.

Senior Democrats had said they will not seat Burris because he was appointed by Blagojevich, who is accused of trying to sell or trade the seat to the highest bidder.

But Burris's chances being seated in the near future increased after an influential Democratic senator argued it was the right thing to do.

"Does the governor have the power, under law, to make the appointment? And the answer is yes," said Dianne Feinstein, chairwoman of the Senate Rules Committee, which judges the credentials of senators.

Burris, 71, told reporters on Capitol grounds that when he presented his credentials to the Secretary of the Senate, he was advised "my credentials were not in order and I would not be accepted nor will I be seated nor will I be permitted on the floor."

Burris said he was "not seeking to have any type of confrontation" and will consult his attorneys to determine his next step.

The political drama unfolded hours before the U.S. Congress convened on Tuesday.

Burris was met by a throng of reporters as he arrived at the Capitol.

Although no one has accused the former Illinois attorney general of any wrongdoing, Senate Democrats have said the appointment is tainted because of Blagojevich's involvement.

But Burris has said there is nothing wrong with the appointment and that he's qualified to take the seat.

Document not signed

On Monday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who is against seating Burris, also pointed out that Burris can't be seated because he has not been certified by the state of Illinois.

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White has not signed off on the appointment, something required by the Senate.

Burris has gone to court hoping to win an order for White to sign the necessary paperwork, and he has also threatened to sue to take his seat in the Senate.

Meanwhile, Al Franken was also blocked from taking a seat as the new Democratic senator for Minnesota.

Franken declared himself the winner in that Senate race after Minnesota's Canvassing Board on Monday certified Franken won 225 more votes than his rival, Republican Norm Coleman.

But Coleman filed a lawsuit Tuesday challenging Franken's apparent recount victory in a move that likely delays a resolution of the contest for weeks or months.

Minnesota law prohibits final certification of a winner until a legal challenge is resolved. Senate Republicans had indicated they would filibuster if necessary to block Franken from participating when new senators are sworn in Tuesday.

With files from the Associated Press