The United States praised Turkey yesterday for its leadership on Syria after Ankara said it would impose sanctions on the government of President Bashar al-Assad, Hurriyet Daily News reports on Wednesday.
"The leadership shown by Turkey in response to the brutality and violation of the fundamental rights of the Syrian people will isolate the Assad regime," said National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor.
The move, by one of Syria's main trading partners and a former ally, will "send a strong message to Assad and his circle that their actions are unacceptable and will not be tolerated," Vietor said.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu had announced an immediate ban on transactions with the Syrian government and its central bank as well as a freeze on Syrian government assets in Turkey.
Similar measures would also be taken against "some well-known businessmen who are strong advocates of the Syrian regime," he added.
Ankara's measures come after Arab foreign ministers agreed on Sunday a list of sweeping sanctions designed to cripple the Assad regime, which has so far defied international pressure to halt a bloody crackdown on protests.
"The measures announced by the Turkish government today will undoubtedly increase the pressure on the Syrian regime," said Vietor.
