The EU Council introduced an embargo on arms exports to Syria and banned 13 members of the Syrian government from visiting the EU and froze their assets in Europe.
The ban includes Maher Assad (the 43-year-old brother of Syrian President Bashar Assad), who heads the state guard, head of Syrian Intelligence Ali Mamluk and the new Interior Minister, Ibrahim Al-Shaar, who is responsible for violence against the protesters.
The EU has called on the Syrian authorities to stop violence and start political reforms.
The EU diplomatic head, Catherine Ashton, said that sanctions will be extended if no measures are taken by the Syrian authorities. The next session on Syria will be held by the Council of Foreign Ministers in May, she said.
Disorders in Syria started in the city of Deraa in mid-March. They were inspired by the arrest of pupils who were writing anti-government slogans on walls. People demanded their release. Protests spread to Latakia, Banias, Homs, Hama and other outskirts of Damascus.
The opposition says over 500 people have been killed in clashes with the police. Official information says that 70 civilians and over 90 soldiers and police officers have died.
The Syrian authorities say that the protests were initiated by external forces.
The lifting of the state of emergency, which had been in force since 1963, did not stop the opposition. An amendment to the Constitution is expected to be passed in the near future. The Arab Socialist Ba’ath Party will no longer be the authoritative and leading power of the country.
