EU imposes sanctions on Assad
One week after US imposes sanctions on Syrian president, EU follows suit. Sanctions include travel ban to Europe, asset freeze
The European Union imposed sanctions on Syrian President Bashar Assad and other senior officials on Monday, raising pressure on his government to end weeks of violence against protesters.
EU foreign ministers agreed at a meeting in Brussels to expand restrictions against Syria by adding Assad and around a dozen other senior members of the government to a list of those banned from travelling to the EU and subject to asset freezes.
"Technically, the legal act has been accepted," one EU diplomat said, adding EU foreign ministers would still discuss the move at the meeting on Monday.
Germany's foreign minister, Guido Westerwelle, said it was necessary to move against Syria's top leaders.
"If someone represses his own people like that, responds to peaceful demonstrations with force, this can't be left unanswered by the European Union," he said.
Sympathizing in Amman, Jordan. (Photo: AP)
Syrian security forces killed six people in the city of Homs on Saturday during a funeral for those killed in the latest crackdown on protesters demonstrating against Assad's rule, witnesses said.
Human rights groups estimate that more than 700 civilians have been killed by security forces as they attempt to suppress nearly two months of popular protests that have spread from southern Syria to towns across the country.
Business as usual? Assad hosting businessmen in Damascus (Photo: EPA)
Syrian authorities have blamed most of the violence on armed groups backed by Islamists and foreign powers, who they say have killed more than 120 members of the security forces.
Dutch Foreign Minister Uri Rosenthal said it was important to maintain pressure to ensure "fundamental change" in Syria.
Protest in Homs (Photo: AP)
He said imposing sanctions on Assad and his entourage was "a clear signal that we will not condone his policy of violence and repression".
"He has to make the choice now," he said. British Foreign Secretary William Hague said extending sanctions to Assad was the right thing to do.
"The repression in Syria continues and it is important to see the right to peaceful process and the release of political prisoners and taking the path of reform, not repression," he said.
The United States extended sanctions to Assad and six senior officials on Wednesday in an escalation of pressure on his government to halt its bloody crackdown on protesters.
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