European Union governments plan to adopt a wide range of financial sanctions against Syria next week, targeting President Bashar al-Assad's ability to access cash through the banking sector, an EU diplomat said today.
The new measures are expected to include a ban on European investment in Syrian banks, trading in Syrian government bonds and on provision of insurance to state bodies.
They are also expected to ban new loans to the government, bilaterally or through international financial institutions, prohibit trading of gold or other precious metals and bar sales of computer software used to monitor the Internet or telephone communications.
The measures are also expected to prohibit Syrian banks from opening new branches in EU states, the diplomat said.
"The goal is to target Assad's financial resources," the diplomat said.
EU governments gave preliminary agreement to the package earlier this week but experts will continue discussions this week and could amend the proposals, the diplomat said.
The new measures will add to broad EU sanctions which include an oil embargo, as well as measures against Dr Assad himself, aimed at halting a crackdown on pro-democracy protests.
The United Nations says 3,500 people have been killed in the uprising against Assad triggered by Arab revolts in North Africa and the Middle East.
Syrian forces killed two villagers on today in an agricultural area acting as a supply line for defectors, and clamped down on a Damascus suburb where loyalist troops have been targeted in sporadic attacks, activists and residents said.
Thousands of soldiers have fled the regular army since it started cracking down on an eight-month protest movement to overthrow Dr Assad. They have formed armed units loosely linked to the umbrella "Free Syrian Army", led by officers hiding in Turkey.
Reuters