Obama Signs New Sanctions Against Syria

[The Northerner]

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - The United States on Friday slapped sanctions on Syria's intelligence agency and two relatives of President Bashar al-Assad in Washington's first concrete steps in response to a bloody crackdown on protests.

Assad, Syria's long-serving ruler, was not among those targeted under an order signed by President Barack Obama but could be named soon if violence by government forces against democracy protesters continues, a senior U.S. official said.

Mahir al-Assad, Bashar's brother, and Atif Najib, one of his cousins, were among the five targets of U.S. sanctions related to alleged human rights violations.

The action marks a more assertive approach by Washington, which has been criticized by human rights groups for not doing more to curb Assad's efforts to crush an uprising against his autocratic 11-year rule.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/29/obama-sanctions-syria_n_855593.html

[inna]

1. looks like some humanitarian drones are in order.

[eilen]

2. How many wars are we in? I lost count. nt

[pampango]

3. Good move. Last I heard Syrian protesters don't want foreign intervention other than

public pressure and sanctions targeted against Assad and his use of the military against protesters.