US Congress allows 9/11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia

The US Congress on Wednesday voted overwhelmingly in favor of overriding President Barack Obama's veto of a bill that would allow the victims of the 9/11 attacks in the USA to sue Saudi Arabia.

The vote passed through the Senate 97-1 to before heading to the House of Representatives, which voted 348-77 in favor.

US Senator Chuck Schumer, one of the bill's sponsors, said the legislation "would allow the victims of 9/11 to pursue some small measure of justice."

"The White House and the executive (are) far more interested in diplomatic considerations … We're more interested in the families and in justice," Schumer said.

The legislative body's decision marks the first time it has counteracted a veto from Obama during his eight-year presidency.

Before the vote, Obama warned of the "devastating" consequences the legislation would have for the Pentagon, service members, diplomats and the country's intelligence services.

It would "neither protect Americans from terrorist attacks, nor improve the effectiveness of our response to such attacks," the president said in a letter submitted to Democratic and Republic members of Congress.

"The United States relies on principles of immunity to prevent foreign litigants and foreign courts from second-guessing our counterterrorism operations and other actions that we take every day," he added.

'Embarrassing'

Although 15 of the 19 hijackers involved in the 9/11 terrorist attacks on American soil were citizens of Saudi Arabia, there is no evidence that connects the government to the perpetrators.

Riyadh, a key ally to the US, has vehemently denied allegations that it was involved in the attacks, which left nearly 3,000 people dead.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said passing the bill had been "the single most embarrassing thing" the Congress has done in decades.

"Ultimately, these senators are going to have to answer their own conscience and their constituents as they account for their actions today," Earnest told reporters.

However, attorneys representing 9/11 victims discredited concerns over the legislation, saying it amounted to fearmongering.

ls/jm (AFP, AP)