By Crispian Balmer and Dominic Evans / Reuters BEIRUT: The European Union slapped sanctions on the mother, sister and influential wife of President Bashar Al-Assad on Friday, increasing pressure on Syria to halt its bloody crackdown against a year-long uprising. The trio were among 12 Syrians added to a list of figures already hit with EU …
DAMASCUS: The UN Security Council was to weigh a draft statement on Tuesday warning Syria of “further measures” if it fails to cooperate with peace envoy Kofi Annan, as fresh violence struck Damascus. Russian support for a daily humanitarian truce had raised hopes of a breakthrough at the Security Council but on Tuesday Moscow made …
By Agencies BRUSSELS: The European Union imposed sanctions on seven Syrian cabinet ministers on Tuesday for their role in a bloody crackdown on dissent, the latest move aimed at pressuring President Bashar Al-Assad to step down. As Assad’s forces continued to shell opposition strongholds the EU issued a list of top officials it said were …
CAIRO: Syria plans to strengthen economic ties with Asian and African countries to offset Western sanctions triggered by President Bashar Al-Assad’s crackdown on anti-government protesters, the country’s economy and trade minister told an Egyptian newspaper. Mohammad Nidal Al-Shaar said the Syrian economy was bearing up well, with only European oil investments badly hit. But many …
BRUSSELS: EU states agreed on Thursday to further extend sanctions on Syria but stopped short of targeting the oil industry and banks, which dissidents say would be the only way to choke off funds fuelling repression in the country. EU officials said EU ambassadors meeting in Brussels agreed that more names should be added to …
