Brushing Saudi’s warning aside, 9/11 bill passes US senate

Newstrack
Published on: 17 May 2016 11:39 PM GMT
Brushing Saudi’s warning aside, 9/11 bill passes US senate
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Washington: A long awaited bill, that would let the families of 9/11 victims sue the Saudi government, has broken through a key barrier, taking the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JATSA) to the House of Representatives.

Earlier, the foreign minister of Saudi Arabia Adel al-Jubeir had warned that the step could cause his government to withdraw US investments.

President Barack Obama said he would reject the bill, whereas a democratic senator was confident that the president would be overruled.

Highlights:

  • If it becomes law, the US legislation would allow families of the victims to sue any member of the Saudi Arabian government, thought to have played a role in the attack.
  • Saudi Arabia denies its involvement in 2001 attack on the World Trade centre, which claimed almost 3000 lives.
  • 15 out of 19 hijackers in the attack were Saudi citizens.
  • According to a White House spokesperson, Obama had serious concerns about the bill and it would be difficult for him to sign it into law.

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