The USA has adopted sanctions against Syrian President Bashar Assad for violation of human rights, US Deputy Finances Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence David Cohen said, Reuters reports.
He said that Assad must stop the violence immediately and start democratic reforms.
Besides Assad himself, six political leaders were added to the sanction list. Assets of Syrian functionaries will be frozen.
The sanctions concern Commander of the Syrian Brigade Army Mahir al-Assad, Syrian Intelligence Chief Ali Mamluk and former head of the Syrian Service for Political Security of a province Atif Najib.
The sanctions affect Syrian intelligence service and Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps in the country. All US citizens are forbidden to conclude any deals with the listed officials.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and EU Diplomatic Chief Catherine Ashton said that they are concerned with the events in Syria and are studying ways of expanding the sanctions.
Disorders in Syria started in Seraa in mid-March. They spread to other cities, such as Latakia, Banias , Homs, Hama and outskirts of Damascus. Opposition says that over 850 people have died.
The government announced mass reforms. The state of emergency in the country that had been in force since 1963 was lifted, as one of the demands of opposition.
