‘Imminent’ EU Sanctions Against 5 Syrian Individuals, Companies

The European Union is to add five new names to a list of Syrian individuals and companies already targeted by a visa ban and assets freeze, EU diplomats said Monday.

"We will continue with our policy of sanctions,” said a spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, confirming that a new round of measures against Syrians involved in the crackdown against protesters was "imminent.”

A diplomat said the sanctions would come into force Tuesday when the names of the five are released in the EU's Official Journal.

There were no immediate details available on the new targets.

The last round of EU sanctions against President Bashar al-Assad's regime came in June, when the 27-nation bloc added 11 individuals and businesses to a list of 23 Syrians already targeted.

Those included Assad and members of his inner circle.

This week's measures come amid vibrant international condemnation of Syria's use of force and repression against civilian protesters.

Ashton this weekend condemned the "totally unjustified assault" by Syria's military on anti-regime protesters, which activists said had claimed nearly 140 lives Sunday.

"I am shocked at the latest reports from Syria that large numbers of civilians have again been killed in a totally unjustified assault by Syrian security forces on the town of Hama," Ashton said in a statement.

Of those killed on Sunday, a hundred were shot as the security forces stormed Hama, said activists.

"This attack and the continuing crackdown in other Syrian cities is even more unacceptable coming on the eve of the holy month of Ramadan," Ashton added.