Eu Adds New People, Firms To Syria Sanctions List

The European Union added three people and nine companies to the its current sanction list against Syria because of their support for the Assad regime on Wednesday.



The new sanctions which were published in the EU Official Journal bring a travel ban in the European Union and an asset freeze to the nine companies in conducting business with EU countries.



The nine companies including Beirut-based Oceans Petroleum Trading and Tri Oceans Trading, an Egyptian firm are accused of providing support to the Syrian regime and organising covert oil shipments for the regime.



The EU also placed the institutions controlled by the Syrian Ministry of Defence, refinery companies, a scientific and technology institution, a energy company under the ban.



The EU also targetted and brought a travel ban for Hashim Anwar al-Aqqad, a businessman and director of Aqqad Group, Suhail al-Hasan, one of the Syrian army commanders and Amr Armanazi, the head of the Syrian Scientific Studies and Research Center.



With the new sanctions, the total number of individuals increased to 192 and the companies increased to 63.



Syria has been gripped by fighting since the regime of Bashar al-Assad launched a violent crackdown in response to anti-government protests in March, 2011, triggering a conflict that has spiraled into a civil war.



The UN has stopped updating its death toll for the country because an official count has become too difficult to verify. At least 100,000 deaths were recorded in the last official count, in July 2013.



www.aa.com.tr/en - Brüksel