Syria Crisis: European Union May Impose New Sanctions

BRUSSELS -- A senior EU official say the bloc will soon impose harsher sanctions against Syria as it seeks to weaken the regime and end President Bashar Assad's crackdown against political opponents.

The official said Wednesday the new measures may include bans on the import of Syrian phosphates, on commercial flights between Syria and Europe, and on financial transactions with the country's central bank.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity in keeping with EU rules, said some measures would be adopted at the EU foreign ministers meeting on Feb. 27, but it's not yet clear which.

The EU has already banned oil imports from Syria, and imposed visa bans and asset freezes against government officials and military and police officers.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

Comments

[omobob]

12:29 PM on 02/08/2012

> A senior EU official say the bloc will soon impose harsher sanctions against Syria.

Oh no, the dreaded sanctions. The same ones that haven’t worked on Cuba for 60 years? Or North Korea for another 60. Iran, the former Soviet Union, Afghanistan, Libya, Veneznula, Nicaragua and Saddam’s Iraq. All sanctions have done is to ensure the survival of the dictators at the expense of their citizens. Sanctions made Saddam billions in black market oil. fubar

[Schoolgirl666]

11:28 AM on 02/08/2012

Europe needs to stop threatening sanctions and just do it....