European Union tightens sanctions against Syria

European Union tightens sanctions against Syria

2012-03-24 07:36:42 GMT+7 (ICT)

BRUSSELS, Belgium (BNO NEWS) -- The European Union (EU) on Friday announced increased sanctions against the Syrian regime due to its continued use of violence against civilians and pro-democracy protesters.

"The repression has reached totally unacceptable levels of violence and must stop immediately," said EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton. "Today's decisions aim to weaken the regime's resources and its ability to conduct its brutal campaign," she added.

The EU said its Council targeted 12 people associated with the repression or supporting or benefiting from the regime with a ban on entering the EU. The assets of the same individuals, who include the wife of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and of two additional entities will be frozen within the EU.

With Friday's increased sanctions, the number of designated people rose to 126, while the total number of targeted entities reaching 41.

Since the Syrian regime began to violently repress the uprising in 2011, this is the thirteenth time that the EU imposes sanctions against the country. It is estimated that more than 8,000 people have been killed since the start of the conflict in March 2011.

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