EU freezes assets of 2 Syrian ministers

BEIRUT – The European Union has hit Syria's industry and information ministers with sanctions, freezing their assets and preventing them from traveling in the 28-nation bloc.

EU foreign ministers made the move Monday. The Syrian ministers were only appointed last month.

It means 257 people are now under EU sanctions "for being responsible for the violent repression against the civilian population in Syria, benefiting from or supporting the regime, and/or being associated with such persons."

A further 67 entities—mostly companies and organizations—have had their assets frozen.