Europe : The European Union has slapped fresh sanctions on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s family. It has decided to freeze assets and banned Assad’s wife Asma, and his mother, sister and sister-in-law, from traveling in the EU. The move is aimed at exerting pressure on him to what it called ending the crackdown on protesters.

European Union foreign ministers agreed in Brussels to freeze assets and impose travel ban on Syrian President Assad’s wife, mother, sister and sister-in-law, and eight other members of his entourage. British Foreign Secretary William Hague said it was important to tighten the diplomatic and economic stranglehold on the Syrian regime. EU foreign ministers have also expanded the list of people facing asset freeze and bans on travel to the EU by several other Syrians.

It has barred European companies from doing business with two Syrian oil companies. The decisions will come into effect on Saturday. These are in addition to earlier 12 rounds of sanctions aimed at isolating Assad, including an arms embargo and a ban on importing Syrian oil to the EU. Assad has been the target of sanctions since May last year, but these have so far had little impact on his policies. A list of people targeted by the latest EU sanctions is scheduled to be made public on Saturday.