Entry-denied Inauguration ticket holders plan replay

Washington, January 25 (ANI): A campaign staff member has urged friends and US President Barack Obama's supporters to join in a replay of the oath-taking after ticket holders were denied entry to the original ceremony.

Gabe Cohen, who had campaigned for 20 months, had been among thousand others who had the purple- and blue-section tickets but were shut out from the ceremony after having waited for more than five hours.

And now the 29-year-old has sent invitations for the viewing of the unofficial ceremony near the U.S. Capitol, where the event would be repeated on laptops and iPods.

Cohen made the announcement on his Facebook page, called "Survivors of the Purple Tunnel of Doom," which has more than 4,500 members.

"In the same spirit of the campaign, a couple of us got to talking, and we wanted to make the best of an unfortunate situation," the Washington Post quoted him as saying.

Cohen and his mum Judy Marks had eventually ended up watching the ceremony at a restaurant hosting a paid private viewing party.

Cohen added: "It was unfortunate what happened, but it was a wonderful day."

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), chair of the inaugural committee, has initiated an investigation into the matter and promised souvenir packets to those who were let down.

But Marks added: "I'm sure she has been trying to be responsive to many disappointed people but she can't bring back the day." (ANI)