The European Union on Friday expanded sanctions on Syria and placed a travel ban on President Bashar al-Assad’s family, including his wife, as the United Nations envoy Kofi Annan headed to Moscow and Beijing to press proposals for an immediate halt to the violent conflict.
The decision by Europe’s foreign ministers in Brussels to impose a limited expansion of commercial sanctions is aimed at tightening the economic squeeze on the government in Damascus and forcing an end to its brutal crackdown on a year of unrest.
The move comes as Mr. Annan, attempting to mediate the crisis on behalf of the United Nations and the Arab League, pressed his diplomatic efforts with China and Russia, which have previously blocked two United Nations Security Council resolutions on Syria. Mr. Annan is set to hold talks with Russian and Chinese officials over the weekend.
The names of those Syrians targeted for European sanctions and an asset freeze was not due to be published until Saturday. But one European diplomat, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that list included the president’s wife, Asma, and much of his family.
The travel ban follows reports of leaked e-mails from private accounts that appeared to reveal that the 36-year-old Ms. Assad is a keen shopper who has spent thousands of dollars on luxury products during the unrest in Syria.
However, the ban may be largely symbolic: Ms. Assad holds a British passport and could likely not be prevented from entering Britain, where she has spent much of her life.
The new and expanded list of sanctions was also expected to include Mr. Assad’s mother, sister and sister-in-law. In all 12 people, 4 family members and 8 ministers, were added to the sanctions list, which already included Mr. Assad, said the European official, who was not authorized to discuss the issue publicly before the formal publication of the names.
The latest move adds to a sanctions regime against Syria that is already extensive and includes a ban on arms sales and of imports of Syrian oil.
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
