This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-middle-east-13444179

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Syria: US 'to impose sanctions on President Assad' Syria: US sanctions target President Bashar al-Assad
(40 minutes later)
The US is to impose sanctions on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for human rights abuses, sources have said. The United States has imposed sanctions on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for human rights abuses.
It would be the first time Mr Assad has been targeted personally by the international community for his government's crackdown on protesters. It represents the first time Mr Assad has been targeted specifically by the international community for his government's crackdown on protesters.
President Barack Obama last month imposed sanctions on Mr Assad's brother Maher, his cousin and an intelligence chief. President Barack Obama last month imposed sanctions on his brother Maher, his cousin and an intelligence chief.
Hillary Clinton said on Tuesday the US would take further steps against Syria. A US state department official said it was time for Mr Assad "to lead a political transition or to leave".
Meanwhile, Mr Assad has said his security services made some mistakes in their handling of demonstrations, the al-Watan newspaper reported.Meanwhile, Mr Assad has said his security services made some mistakes in their handling of demonstrations, the al-Watan newspaper reported.
He attributed the shortcomings to a lack of experience with such situations, which he said would normally be the police's responsibility.He attributed the shortcomings to a lack of experience with such situations, which he said would normally be the police's responsibility.
Mr Assad also "gave assurances that Syria had overcome the crisis" and that "events were coming to an end", the newspaper added.Mr Assad also "gave assurances that Syria had overcome the crisis" and that "events were coming to an end", the newspaper added.
The admission came as the BBC received new reports of attacks on civilians in Tal Kalakh, near the border with Lebanon, which has been besieged for several days. Activists say at least 27 people have died.The admission came as the BBC received new reports of attacks on civilians in Tal Kalakh, near the border with Lebanon, which has been besieged for several days. Activists say at least 27 people have died.
'Worst tactics''Worst tactics'
The US officials said the sanctions punishing Mr Assad and six other senior Syrian officials for human rights abuses would be unveiled on Wednesday, a day before President Obama delivers a major speech on the uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa. The href="http://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/tg1181.aspx" >executive order signed by Mr Obama on Wednesday punishes Mr Assad and six senior Syrian officials for human rights abuses.
The sanctions would freeze any assets they have in US jurisdiction and make it illegal for Americans to do business with them. The others named are Vice-President Farouk al-Sharaa; Prime Minister Adel Safar; Interior Minister Mohammed al-Shaar; Defence Minister Ali Habib; Abdul Fatah Qudsiya, the head of Military intelligence; and Mohammed Dib Zaitoun, the head of the Political Security Directorate.
The US and EU have already imposed sanctions on senior figures close to Mr Assad, but have so far stopped short of targeting him specifically.
At a meeting with the EU's foreign policy chief on Tuesday, Secretary of State Mrs Clinton announced the US would be "taking additional steps in the days ahead" to pressure the Syrian authorities to allow peaceful protests. Mr Obama wanted to "increase pressure on the government of Syria to end its use of violence and begin transitioning to a democratic system that ensures the universal rights of the Syrian people", an official said.
"They have embraced the worst tactics of their Iranian ally, and they have refused to honour the legitimate aspirations of their own people in Syria," she said. The US and EU have already imposed sanctions on other senior figures close to Mr Assad, but have so far stopped short of targeting him.
"President Assad talks about reform, but his heavy-handed, brutal crackdown shows his true intentions." The new measures freeze any assets they have in US jurisdiction and make it illegal for Americans to do business with them.
The BBC's Kim Ghattas in Washington says the direct impact will be minimal, however, as it is unlikely that any of those targeted hold any assets in the US.
But the move is a tough message to Syria, and it is sign the US is close to full giving up on Mr Assad as a potential reformer, she adds.
It has not yet called on the Syrian leader to go, although one senior state department official said on Wednesday that he had a choice now.
"We are saying that we oppose his behaviour and that he needs to stop his policies of repression and mass arrests and begin a political transition that ensures fair representation and democratic rights for Syrians," the official told reporters.
"We are also saying that Assad is isolating himself from the international community due to his egregious actions. It is up to Assad to lead a political transition or to leave."
The US also said it had designated other individuals and entities complicit in the repression, including Hafez Makhlouf, a cousing of the president and senior official in the General Security Directorate (GSD); Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Iranian Islamic Revolution Guard Corps' elite Quds Force, the conduit for Iranian material support to the GSD; and Mohsen Chizari, head of operations and training for the Quds Force.
Human rights activists say more than 850 people have been killed and thousands arrested in the operation launched to quell dissent in March.Human rights activists say more than 850 people have been killed and thousands arrested in the operation launched to quell dissent in March.
The Syrian government blames most of the violence on "armed criminal gangs", saying they have killed more than 120 soldiers and police.The Syrian government blames most of the violence on "armed criminal gangs", saying they have killed more than 120 soldiers and police.
The sanctions are expected to be announced before or during a major speech on the Middle East by President Obama on Thursday. The sanctions were announced the day before a major speech on the uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa by Mr Obama.