BRUSSELS: The European Union on Thursday added 10 top Syrian officials to its sanctions blacklist for their role in the “violent repression” of the civilian population. “The persons… include high-ranking military officials and senior figures linked to the regime,” it said in a statement. EU leaders agreed last week to increase sanctions against President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, citing devastating attacks on Syria’s second city of Aleppo. The European Council of member states said the new Syrian sanctions would hit those “responsible for the violent repression against the civilian population in Syria, benefiting from or supporting the regime, and/or being associated with such persons”. Another 69 entities are affected by asset freezes while the EU also has in place other sanctions against Syria as a whole, including arms and oil embargoes plus investment restrictions.

Source: Manila Times October 27, 2016 12:26 UTC