Senate passes bill to allow 9/11 victims to sue Riyadh

Saudi Arabia says will sell $750 billion assets in retaliation if it becomes law

The US Senate passed legislation on Tuesday that would allow families of victims of the Sept 11, 2001 attacks to sue Saudi Arabia's government for damages, setting up a potential showdown with the White House, which has threatened a veto.

The Saudis, who deny responsibility for the attacks, strongly object to the bill. They had said they might sell up to $750 billion in US securities and other assets in retaliation if it became law.