The European Union widened sanctions against Syria in a push to end a violent crackdown on opponents of President Bashar al-Assad, adding 18 people including senior military and intelligence officials to its blacklist.
The EU measures, approved by the bloc’s 27 governments yesterday, impose asset freezes and a travel ban on people who are said to be responsible for the violence.
The EU sanctions also target members of Syria’s electronic surveillance forces and Deputy Interior Minister Saqr Khayr Bek. The move brings to 74 the number of Syrians blacklisted by the EU. European companies are forbidden from doing business with 19 firms and groups.
