White House threatens 'additional steps' against Syria

Xinhua, May 7, 2011

White House on Friday threatened to take "additional steps" against Syria if its government does not show "significant change" in its approach to protests, said a statement released by its press secretary.

The statement said the U.S. "strongly condemn" and "deplore" the Syrian government's use of violence and mass arrests in response to ongoing demonstrations.

White House said it has been made "abundantly clear" that the Syrian government's security crackdown will not restore stability and will not stop the demands for change in Syria.

"It is also clear that false reform announcements, such as ending the emergency law but then expanding the scope of arrests without even the pretense of judicial warrants, also do not satisfy the demand for change in Syria," it said.

White House threatened that the United States will "adjust" its relations with Syria according to the "concrete actions" undertaken by the Syrian government.

If the Syrian government does not end killings and arrests of the protesters, the United States will take "additional steps" to show its "strong opposition", said the White House.

On April 29, U.S. President Barack Obama signed an executive order imposing sanctions against senior Syrian officials and government entities. Recent reports said the Obama administration were mulling more sanctions against the Syrian government.

Other U.S. sanctions against Syria has been in place for years. The Bush administration initially imposed sanctions on Syria on May 11, 2004, then extended them on April 25, 2006 and expanded them on Feb. 13, 2008 to target against some Syrian officials.