Syria defence minister blacklisted

The European Union on Tuesday added Syrian Defence Minister Ali Habib Mahmud and four others to its sanctions blacklist of individuals and businesses associated with a bloody clampdown on dissent.

The EU's official journal also showed that the extended list includes Mohammed Mufleh, head of Syrian military intelligence in Hama, the scene of a crackdown by the army which activists say has left more than 100 dead.

Also among the five now subject to an asset freeze and visa ban, were Major General Tawfiq Yunis, head of "internal security" in the General Intelligence Directorate and Mohammed Makhlouf, also known as Abu Rami, an uncle of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Completing the list is Ayman Jabir who was "directly involved in repression and violence against the civilian population."

"The message is clear and unambiguous: those responsible for the repression will be singled out and held accountable," said British Foreign Secretary William Hague as the sanctions came into effect.

"In the absence of an end to the senseless violence and a genuine process of political reform, we will continue to pursue further EU sanctions," Hague added in a statement.

The latest measures bring to 38 the number of people and businesses targeted by the 27-nation bloc, including members of Assad's family and three commanders of Iran's Revolutionary Guard accused of aiding the crackdown.

Italy meanwhile recalled its ambassador in Syria for consultations over the "horrible repression" and proposed that all ambassadors from countries within the EU be recalled.

The EU sanctions come amid strong international condemnation of the use of force and repression against civilian Syrian protesters this weekend.

The UN Security Council was to hold a second day of talks on Syria on Tuesday after Assad's tanks shelled the protest hub of Hama on the opening day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

At a first session of emergency talks on the crackdown, Western powers again demanded a condemnation of the violence, but the closed session ended with no agreement.

A top UN official told the meeting that on top of 140 people reported killed in a military offensive on Sunday, 3,000 people have gone missing and 12,000 been taken prisoner since the anti-regime protests erupted in mid-March, diplomats said.

 

Italy recalls ambassador to Syria

Italy said on Tuesday it had recalled its ambassador to Syria, citing Damascus' "horrible repression" of anti-government protests, and urged other EU nations to do the same.

Syria's crackdown on demonstrations has led the European Union to expand its sanctions against the country, imposing asset freezes and travel bans against five more military and government officials on Monday. Sanctions already included President Bashar Assad.

The Syrian government launched a new push against protesters as the Muslim holy month of Ramadan began, killing dozens, according to human rights groups.

Rome decided to recall its envoy "in order to send a strong signal of condemnation for the unacceptable repression," said an Italian Foreign Ministry undersecretary, Stefania Craxi.

Rome's appeal to fellow EU nations was not immediately heeded. Spain, Britain, and Belgium said they had no such plans for now, and there was no EU-wide directive to recall envoys from Damascus, officials in Brussels said.

Britain's Foreign Secretary William Hague said tougher EU sanctions were sending a "clear and unambiguous" message.

"In the absence of an end to the senseless violence and a genuine process of political reform, we will continue to pursue further EU sanctions," he said in a statement. Without change, he added, "President Assad and those around him will find themselves isolated internationally and discredited within Syria."

In Rome, Craxi said Assad appeared "incapable" of handling the situation and implementing the serious reforms that both his citizens and the international community demand, the ANSA news agency reported. Craxi was briefing lawmakers on the situation in Syria.

Rome will also suspend cooperative programs with Damascus, save for humanitarian aid destined to Iraqi refugees, Craxi said, according to ANSA.

On Monday, Syrian forces shelled the city of Hama for a second day and fired at worshippers heading to Ramadan prayers. Violence on Sunday left 74 people dead throughout the country, 55 of them from Hama and nearby, according to rights groups.

President Barack Obama said the latest attacks were "outrageous."

More than 1,600 civilians have been killed in a crackdown on largely peaceful protests since a popular uprising began in Syria in mid-March.

The EU said Tuesday that people targeted in its expanded sanctions' list include Syria's defense minister, Ali Habib Mahmud, and the head of the army's internal security, Maj. Gen. Tawfiq Younes.

The list brings the number of targeted individuals to 35. Four government entities are also on the list.

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.