September 23, 2011

The European Union today agreed a fresh round of sanctions on Syria.

The sanctions are aimed to put more pressure on the regime of President Bashar al-Assad to end his deadly crackdown on antigovernment protesters.

They include a ban on investment in the Syrian oil industry and a ban on delivering bank notes to the Syrian Central Bank.

Two more people and six companies are added to the list of individuals and entities already facing travel bans and assets freezes because of their involvement in the crackdown.

The United Nations estimate more than 2,600 people have been killed since the suppression of antigovernment protests began in March.

The sanctions are to come into force on Septembger 24.

compiled from agency reports