In a move to pressure Syria to stop using brutal and deadly means of suppressing protests against the government, the United States imposed sanctions against President Bashar al-Assad and six other top Syrian officials. The Treasury Department announced the sanctions Wednesday.
"As a result of this action, any property in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons in which the individuals listed in the Annex have an interest is blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them," the department said in a statement.
In addition to President Assad, the sanctions also affect Vice President Farouq al-Shara, Prime Minister Adel Safar, Interior Minister Mohammad Ibrahim al-Shaar, Defense Minister Ali Habib, military intelligence leader Abdul Fatah Qudsiya and political security director Mohammed Dib Zaitoun.
Around 850 protesters calling for President Assad to step down have been killed by government forces since protests broke out two months ago.
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