OTTAWA—Canada has announced sanctions against 27 high-ranking officials in the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad. Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland says in a statement that those people are now subject to an asset freeze and dealings prohibition. Freeland says adding their names to the sanctions list is part of international pressure on the Assad regime to end indiscriminate violence against its own people, like this month’s chemical weapons attack, and engage in meaningful negotiations. Earlier this week, Freeland urged Russia, a longtime a supporter of Assad, to break with the Syrian president and help broker his departure in order to establish a lasting peace in the troubled region. Read more: Freeland says Russia has chance to get on ‘right side of history’ over Syria

Source: thestar April 14, 2017 13:18 UTC