Obama vetoes bill allowing 9/11 victims' families to sue Saudi Arabia

US President Barack Obama on Friday vetoed a bill that would allow survivors of the 9/11 attacks, along with victims' families, to sue the government of Saudi Arabia, the ABC news reported

"I am returning herewith without my approval S. 2040, the 'Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act' (JASTA), which would, among other things, remove sovereign immunity in US courts from foreign governments that are not designated state sponsors of terrorism," Obama notes in the veto message.

"I have deep sympathy for the families of the victims of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 (9/11), who have suffered grievously. I also have a deep appreciation of these families' desire to pursue justice and am strongly committed to assisting them in their efforts," he said.

The veto comes at the end of a 10-day constitutional window after Congress' overwhelming approval of the legislation, setting up a fight that's likely to hand the outgoing president his first veto override.

Source: MENA