Obama faces friction in Saudi Arabia over 9/11 bill and Iran relationship

Senate bill, which he has spoken out against, looks to enable
victims of the terrorist attacks to sue the Saudi government
if it is found to have been involved

Ian Black, Middle East editor, and David Smith, Washington correspondent
Wednesday 20 April 2016 11.28 BST

Barack Obama has arrived in Saudi Arabia to face some potentially awkward questions from his hosts – not least over a push by some of his political allies for the kingdom to be held responsible in US courts for any role in the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

The US president landed in Riyadh on Wednesday on his final trip to the region before leaving office. He will try to smooth the ruffled the feathers of Saudis, Emiratis and Bahrainis who have come to resent their longstanding ally for “tilting” towards their rival Iran and pressing too hard for domestic reforms they fear will undermine the autocratic status quo.

Adding to Obama’s diplomatic headache is legislation proposed by Senate Democrats that would enable victims of the 9/11 attacks in New York and Washington to sue the Saudi government if it is found to have been involved. Fifteen of the 19 airline hijackers were Saudi citizens but the government has long denied any connection.

Former secretary of state Hillary Clinton and Senator Bernie Sanders, each seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, both said they back the measure, but Obama has spoken out against it. Saudi Arabia has reportedly warned the White House that if the bill is enacted, it might retaliate by selling up to $750bn (£520bn) in treasury securities and other assets in the US.

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