Khashoggi: US Congress brings bill to stop arms sales to Saudi Arabia

Washington, Oct 25: Amid the growing international pressure on Saudi Arabia rising over the death of its dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the US Congress on Wednesday, October 24, brought a bill aiming suspension of the future arms' sale to the West Asian power in response to the Khashoggi incident, reports said. Almost two dozen members of the Congress introduced the bill.

The legislation also includes a prohibition on security assistance, intelligence, training and equipment but leaves out activities related to safeguarding American diplomatic posts and personnel. According to the bill, US President Donald Trump could request exceptions to sale of arms if he also provided a report on a US probe into anybody involved in the killing of Khashoggi, a permanent resident of the US, Reuters reported.

The bill was co-sponsored by 17 Democrats and three Republicans though it was not clear whether it had enough support to survive a voting in the House.

However, amid the worsening diplomatic crisis, US firms are hoping to preserve agreements with Riyadh that have near-term delivery dates - in 2019 and 2020 and stabilise the soft commitments that Trump made during his visit to Saudi Arabia last year, Reuters added.