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Saudi Arabia condemns US Senate 'interference' Saudi Arabia condemns US Senate 'interference'
(about 5 hours later)
Saudi Arabia has denounced US Senate resolutions to end US military aid for a Riyadh-led war in Yemen and to blame the country's crown prince for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Saudi Arabia has reacted angrily after the US Senate voted to withdraw military aid for the war in Yemen, where the Saudis are leading a coalition fighting rebels.
The Saudi foreign ministry described the move as "interference" based on "untrue allegations". The Senate also blamed the Saudi crown prince for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a US resident.
Thursday's US resolutions are largely symbolic and unlikely to become law. Saudi Arabia described the vote as "interference" based on "untrue allegations".
But they sent a warning to President Donald Trump about US lawmakers' anger towards Saudi policies. Thursday's Senate resolution was mostly symbolic and is unlikely to become law.
What did Saudi Arabia say? However, it is seen as a rebuke to Donald Trump's Saudi policies.
It was the first time a chamber of the US Congress had agreed to pull US forces from a military conflict under the 1973 War Powers Act.
Saudi Arabia is leading a coalition fighting Houthi rebels in Yemen, and has received logistical and intelligence support from the US.
The kingdom has also come under pressure since Khashoggi, a US resident and columnist for the Washington Post, was killed while visiting the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in Turkey on 2 October.
Why is Saudi Arabia unhappy?
In a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency, the foreign ministry said: "The kingdom condemns the latest position of the US Senate."In a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency, the foreign ministry said: "The kingdom condemns the latest position of the US Senate."
It said that such a position "was built on untrue allegations". Saudi Arabia, it added, rejected "any interference in its internal affairs". It said that such a position "was built on untrue allegations", and that Saudi Arabia rejected "any interference in its internal affairs".
"The Kingdom has previously asserted that the murder of Saudi citizen Jamal Khashoggi is a deplorable crime that does not reflect the Kingdom's policy nor its institutions and reaffirms its rejection of any attempts to take the case out of the path of justice in the Kingdom." Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman is Saudi Arabia's de facto leader, and the Saudi government has insisted that he knew nothing about Khashoggi's killing.
"The Kingdom has previously asserted that the murder of Saudi citizen Jamal Khashoggi is a deplorable crime that does not reflect the Kingdom's policy nor its institutions and reaffirms its rejection of any attempts to take the case out of the path of justice in the Kingdom," the foreign ministry said.
The US has so far not publicly responded to the Saudi statement.The US has so far not publicly responded to the Saudi statement.
What about the US Senate resolutions? What do the US Senate resolutions actually do?
Thursday's vote was the first time any chamber of the US Congress had voted to pull US forces from a military conflict under the 1973 War Powers Act. A non-binding resolution called upon Mr Trump to remove all US forces engaging in hostilities in Yemen, except for those combating Islamist extremists.
Some of President Trump's fellow Republicans defied him to pass the measure with Democrats by 56-41.Some of President Trump's fellow Republicans defied him to pass the measure with Democrats by 56-41.
The non-binding resolution called upon Mr Trump to remove all American forces engaging in hostilities in Yemen, except for those combating Islamist extremists.
The US suspended refuelling Saudi war planes last month, and Thursday's resolution - if it were ultimately passed into law - would prohibit that practice from resuming.The US suspended refuelling Saudi war planes last month, and Thursday's resolution - if it were ultimately passed into law - would prohibit that practice from resuming.
The Senate then unanimously passed a resolution blaming Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for Washington Post reporter Jamal Khashoggi's murder on 2 October, and insisting that the kingdom hold accountable those responsible. The Senate then unanimously passed a resolution blaming the Saudi crown prince for Khashoggi's murder, and insisting that the kingdom hold accountable those responsible.
Khashoggi was killed at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. What do we know about Khashoggi's murder?
Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor has said Khashoggi was killed on the orders of a rogue intelligence officer.Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor has said Khashoggi was killed on the orders of a rogue intelligence officer.
Turkish officials however say they have evidence, including gruesome audio recordings, that the journalist was killed by a team of Saudi agents on orders that came from the highest levels.Turkish officials however say they have evidence, including gruesome audio recordings, that the journalist was killed by a team of Saudi agents on orders that came from the highest levels.
His body has not yet been found.His body has not yet been found.
Can this legislation become law? US media have said the CIA believes the Saudi crown prince ordered his killing.
However, President Trump has dismissed the report, saying the CIA had not drawn firm conclusions.
Can the resolution become law?
President Trump has vowed to veto the measures, and they are unlikely at present to pass the House of Representatives, which on Wednesday blocked a vote on the matter.President Trump has vowed to veto the measures, and they are unlikely at present to pass the House of Representatives, which on Wednesday blocked a vote on the matter.
But independent Senator Bernie Sanders, who co-sponsored the measures, said he expected the resolutions to succeed once Democrats formally take over control of the House in January following their mid-term elections victory.But independent Senator Bernie Sanders, who co-sponsored the measures, said he expected the resolutions to succeed once Democrats formally take over control of the House in January following their mid-term elections victory.
The Trump administration had argued the bill on Yemen would undercut US support for the Saudi-led coalition against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels.The Trump administration had argued the bill on Yemen would undercut US support for the Saudi-led coalition against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels.
White House officials have emphasised US economic ties to the kingdom. Mr Trump's adviser and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, has continued to cultivate ties with the prince, according to the US media.White House officials have emphasised US economic ties to the kingdom. Mr Trump's adviser and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, has continued to cultivate ties with the prince, according to the US media.