Saudi Arabia has expressed “great concern” and warned of “serious unintended consequences”, following the US Congress’s decision to overrule President Obama and push through a law allowing legal action against the kingdom over the September 11 attacks.<br /><br /> Some analysts have speculated that Riyadh could retaliate by curbing trade with the US or restricting cooperation on security, a crucial relationship for US counter-terrorism and for peace efforts in Arab conflicts. <br /><br /> The Saudi riyal fell against the US dollar in the forward foreign exchange market on Thursday after the bill was passed, prompting a drop in dollar demand in Riyadh.<br /><br /> The law grants an exception to the legal principle of sovereign immunity in cases of terrorism on <br />US soil, clearing the way for lawsuits by the families of victims of the attacks seeking damages from the Saudi government. <br /><br /> Riyadh denies longstanding suspicions that it backed the hijackers who attacked the United States in 2001. Fifteen of the 19 hijackers were Saudi nationals.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /> Barack Obama brands Congress decision on Saudi 9/11 lawsuits bill 'a mistake' https://t.co/eykGvwUH2K— The Independent (@Independent) 29 septembre 2016<br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /> Euronews correspondent Stefan Grobe said:<br /><br /> “It was the first override of Barack Obama’s presidency and a sharp setback for a long time US ally, Saudi Arabia. It also reflects the extent to which Saudi influence in Washington has waned…<br /><br /> “The tide is turning against Riyadh as one analyst put it. The glorious days of the Saudi-American friendship are over.”<br />
