EU plans sanctions on Syria

Malta and the rest of the EU are set to impose sanctions against Syria next week after an informal agreement was reached by the 27 member states.The sanctions will include an embargo on arms sales and a possible travel ban and asset freeze on key players in the Syrian regime.

They will be the first EU response to the violent repression of anti-government protests that have taken place in Damascus and other Syrian cities in recent weeks.EU sources said although some southern member states, particularly Cyprus, resisted tougher measures, the 27 representatives all agreed the EU should start sending “bold” messages to the Syrian government.In a statement, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said the EU “strongly condemns” unacceptable violence against peaceful demonstrators and the increasing number of fatalities, and called on Syrian security forces to exercise restraint.

Ms Ashton also said that work on an association agreement between the EU and Syria would be halted and that the EU would review all cooperation with the Syrian authorities under the European Neighbourhood Policy programme.

Syrian forces are believed to have killed around 600 demonstrators who were calling for an end to the regime of Syria’s president, Bashar Al-Assad. About 66 people are reported to have been killed last Friday alone in the southern city of Deraa, the centre of protests against the regime.

According to international reports, hundreds of Syrians have this week been charged with “degrading the prestige of the state” as President al-Assad steps up his drive to crush pro-democracy protests against his 11-year autocratic rule. This charge carries a three-year prison sentence.