Washington - Democratic leaders in the US Senate have signalled they could be willing to accept the controversial appointment of Roland Burris to fill president-elect Barack Obama's vacated seat.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he will await the outcome of a legal case in Illinois. The Illinois Supreme Court is expected to decide in the coming days if Burris could take the seat without the required certification of the state's top election official.

Reid met Burris on Wednesday and said he was impressed by him. "We don't have a problem with him as an individual," Reid said.

Reid had previously said he would not accept Burris into the Senate because he was appointed to replace Obama by Governor Rod Blagojevich, who was arrested last month on corruption charges, including attempting to solicit bribes from potential candidates.

Blagojevich kept his authority to name a new senator despite calls for him to resign or at least surrender the power to pick a candidate to the state legislature. Burris has not been accused of any wrongdoing, but Democrats were worried that any appointment by Blagojevich would not be credible.

Burris was turned back when he arrived in the Senate on Tuesday to be sworn in with the rest of the senators when Congress began its new session. Burris' credential required two signatures, one of them Blagojevich's and the other of Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White. White has refused to sign the document.

Reid said that ultimately the entire Senate will vote on whether to accept Burris.

Blagojevich faces up to 20 years in prison if he is convicted of the broad corruption charges. The Illinois state legislature has begun impeachment proceedings. (dpa)