The EU has announced new sanctions against the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, affecting 12 more government ministers and two companies active in the oil industry, among others.
A publication on Tuesday in Brussels indicated that the sanction that came into effect on Tuesday followed a decision taken by EU foreign ministers at their Monday meeting.
It imposed a travel ban and asset freeze on Hassan al-Nouri, a candidate in the April 3 presidential elections.
It said al-Nouri had been minister of administrative development since Aug. 27 when several new ministers were appointed.
The union said other ministers targeted were those for the economy, higher education, communications and technology, water resources, housing, labour, health, internal trade, culture, transport, and a state minister.
It noted that as government members, they all share responsibility for the regime’s violent repression against the civilian population.
It also imposed sanctions on an army commander and a senior air force officer, as well as two top energy company executives.
It froze the assets of Pangates International which it listed as an intermediary in the supply of oil to the Syrian regime and its parent company, the Abdulkarim Group.
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