Germany urges UN Security Council action on Syria

Germany called for more European Union sanctions against Syria on Monday and urged the UN Security Council to discuss the government crackdown there again this week.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Andreas Peschke said reports of the bombardment of Syria's port city of Latakia by its own tanks and navy gunboats gave a new reason to send a stronger message and increase EU sanctions. "This current use of violence cannot be justified morally or under international law in any way," he said. "We are advocating for the UN Security Council to address the Syria issue again this week." (Reuters)