US slaps more sanctions on Syria including Foreign Minister

Washington, Aug 31: US has tightened the noose against the Syrian regime by slapping sanctions against three of its top officials including the country's Foreign Minister.

Besides the Foreign and Expatriates Minister, Walid Al-Moallem, other two are Syria's Presidential Political and Media Advisor Bouthaina Shaaban and Syria's Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdul Karim Ali.

"Building on our sanctions targeting the entire Government of Syria, we are bringing additional pressure to bear today directly on three senior Asad regime officials who are principal defenders of the regime's activities," said Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence David Cohen.

"This is part of our ongoing effort to lead the international community in tightening both the political and economic noose on the Asad regime. We believe that other countries should follow suit on the sanctions that we have already put forward, including the economic sanctions. This is a guy who is part of the campaign of violence. We sanctioned his boss, Asad, and now we are sanctioning him," State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland told reporters at her daily news conference.

Nuland said the US had particular concerns about the role these individual plays in the Syrian regime's reign of terror.

"We have particular concerns about the treatment of Syrians in Lebanon and the fact that so many of them have disappeared," she said.

PTI