US sanctions target Syrian president

China.org.cn, May 19, 2011

US President Barack Obama on Wednesday ordered sanctions against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, vice president, the prime minister and several other senior government officials.

Obama said in his executive order that the additional steps were taken in response to Syrian government's "continuing escalation of violence against the people of Syria -- including through attacks on protesters, arrests and harassment of protesters and political activists, and repression of democratic change, overseen and executed by numerous elements of the Syrian government.

The following is the sanction list of individuals:

1. Bashar Al-assad [President of the Syrian Arab Republic]

2. Farouk Al-shara [Vice President]

3. Adel Safar [Prime Minister ]

4. Mohammad Ibrahim Al-shaar [Minister of the Interior]

5. Ali Habib Mahmoud [Minister of Defense]

6. Abdul Fatah Qudsiya [Head of Syrian Military Intelligence]

7. Mohammed Dib Zaitoun [Director of Political Security Directorate]

The sanctions will freeze any assets they have in US jurisdiction and prohibit Americans from doing business with them. The sanctions came into effect on Wednesday noon.

Obama also authorized his secretaries of treasury and state to extend the sanctions to?other senior Syrian officials and entities.

On April 29, Obama?imposed sanctions on ?al-Assad's brother Mahir and cousin Atif Najib under along with Ali Mamluk, director of Syria's General Intelligence Directorate (GID), the GID and the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Qods Force for their role in violence against protesters in Syria.

Syria has sent troops and tanks in many cities to quell unprecedented violence that coupled with anti-government protests. Syria blamed the unrest on armed terrorist groups and foreign conspiracy.

Additional US sanctions came one day before Obama is scheduled to deliver a speech on the events in the Middle East and North Africa and US policy in the region.