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9/11 families allowed to sue Saudi Arabia

The White House has reiterated that President Barack Obama will veto a bill that allows families of the September 11 victims sue Saudi Arabia.

File image of Barack Obama

File image of Barack Obama Source: AAP

The US House of Representatives has passed legislation by voice vote that would allow the families of victims of the September 11 attacks to sue Saudi Arabia's government for damages, despite the White House's threat to veto the measure.

The US Senate passed the "Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act", or JASTA, unanimously in May.

Opponents of the bill said it could strain relations with Saudi Arabia and lead to retaliatory laws targeting US citizens or corporations in other countries.

The vote's timing in the house on Friday was symbolic, passing two days before the 15th anniversary of the hijacked-plane attacks on New York and Washington.

Its passage was greeted with cheers and applause in the House chamber.

The White House on Friday reiterated that President Barack Obama would veto the bill.

If Obama carries out his veto threat and the required two-thirds of both the Republican-majority House and Senate still support the bill, it would be the first time since Obama's presidency began in 2009 that Congress had overridden a veto.

The House passed the measure by voice, without recorded individual votes, which is not technically considered unanimous.

That could make it easier for Obama's fellow Democrats to uphold his veto later without officially changing their positions.


2 min read

Published

Source: AAP



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