Gulf states condemn US Sept 11 law

Gulf states say a US bid to allow families of September 11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia will negatively affect efforts to combat terrorism.

The Saudi-dominated Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has condemned a law passed by the US that would allow families of victims of the September 11 attacks to sue the kingdom's government for damages.

The head of the six-nation GCC says the law is "contrary to the foundations and principles of relations between states and the principle of sovereign immunity enjoyed by states."

"Such laws will negatively affect the international efforts and international cooperation to combat terrorism," GCC Secretary General Abdullatif al-Zayani said in a statement.

The US House of Representatives passed the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act on Friday but the White House has threatened to veto the measure.

Fifteen of the 19 hijackers who crashed airliners in New York, outside Washington and in Pennsylvania on September. 11, 2001 were Saudi nationals, but the Saudi government has strongly denied responsibility and has lobbied against the bill.


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Source: AAP


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