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EU steps up Syria sanctions with ban on oil imports EU steps up Syria sanctions with ban on oil imports
(40 minutes later)
The EU has stepped up sanctions on Syria by banning imports of its oil, as protests again broke out against the rule of President Bashar al-Assad.The EU has stepped up sanctions on Syria by banning imports of its oil, as protests again broke out against the rule of President Bashar al-Assad.
Oil accounts for about 25% of Syria's income and the EU takes about 95% of its oil exports.Oil accounts for about 25% of Syria's income and the EU takes about 95% of its oil exports.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had earlier urged the world community to target Syrian oil and gas exports.US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had earlier urged the world community to target Syrian oil and gas exports.
In Syria, activists called people on to the streets under the slogan "death rather than humiliation". Activists say protesters on Friday again poured on to the streets all over the country.
At least three more people have been killed by security forces, they said.
The United Nations says more than 2,200 people have been killed in six months of protests.The United Nations says more than 2,200 people have been killed in six months of protests.
'Appalling''Appalling'
The UK Foreign Office said the European Union had agreed at official level to ban imports of Syrian oil into the EU to increase pressure on the Syrian regime over its crackdown against anti-government protest.The UK Foreign Office said the European Union had agreed at official level to ban imports of Syrian oil into the EU to increase pressure on the Syrian regime over its crackdown against anti-government protest.
A spokesperson said it was hoped the agreement would be signed off by EU foreign ministers meeting in Poland on Friday and Saturday.A spokesperson said it was hoped the agreement would be signed off by EU foreign ministers meeting in Poland on Friday and Saturday.
"President Assad is carrying out massacres in his own country," Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said."President Assad is carrying out massacres in his own country," Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said.
These latest sanctions are only from the EU, so the Syrians could find outlets on other markets. What we are seeing is an attempt by Western governments to be seen to be doing something - to use rhetoric, sanctions, everything short of military action to give the impression that they really are serious about pressing for change in Syria.These latest sanctions are only from the EU, so the Syrians could find outlets on other markets. What we are seeing is an attempt by Western governments to be seen to be doing something - to use rhetoric, sanctions, everything short of military action to give the impression that they really are serious about pressing for change in Syria.
There is no real indication such actions have made President Assad any weaker now than when the uprising started. But the protesters have been out on the streets for nearly six months now and show no sign whatsoever of stopping. The president has not got control of the streets and it is unclear that he will be able to regain it.There is no real indication such actions have made President Assad any weaker now than when the uprising started. But the protesters have been out on the streets for nearly six months now and show no sign whatsoever of stopping. The president has not got control of the streets and it is unclear that he will be able to regain it.
This is not really an EU or regional matter - this is going to be sorted out within Syria. There are two very powerful forces; the people on the streets - mainly from provincial towns and cities - and the army and security apparatus. The two have shown themselves to be pretty evenly matched. That struggle will continue, and that is what will determine Syria's future - not what is said in the region or further afield in the West.This is not really an EU or regional matter - this is going to be sorted out within Syria. There are two very powerful forces; the people on the streets - mainly from provincial towns and cities - and the army and security apparatus. The two have shown themselves to be pretty evenly matched. That struggle will continue, and that is what will determine Syria's future - not what is said in the region or further afield in the West.
The EU also added four more Syrian officials and three Syrian groups to its list of those affected by an EU travel ban and asset freeze.The EU also added four more Syrian officials and three Syrian groups to its list of those affected by an EU travel ban and asset freeze.
In Paris on Thursday, Mrs Clinton condemned Mr Assad's "brutality against unarmed citizens", adding: "The violence must stop and he needs to step aside."In Paris on Thursday, Mrs Clinton condemned Mr Assad's "brutality against unarmed citizens", adding: "The violence must stop and he needs to step aside."
She called for "strong new sanctions targeting Syria's energy sector to deny the regime the revenues that fund its campaign of violence".She called for "strong new sanctions targeting Syria's energy sector to deny the regime the revenues that fund its campaign of violence".
The US has already banned the import of Syrian oil.The US has already banned the import of Syrian oil.
UK PM David Cameron has expressed frustration that a tough UN resolution on Syria has not yet been found.UK PM David Cameron has expressed frustration that a tough UN resolution on Syria has not yet been found.
He told the BBC on Friday: "We've been at the vanguard, arguing for a different approach to Syria. What [Assad] is doing is appalling. He's had his chance to demonstrate he's serious about reform and he's blown it."He told the BBC on Friday: "We've been at the vanguard, arguing for a different approach to Syria. What [Assad] is doing is appalling. He's had his chance to demonstrate he's serious about reform and he's blown it."
Russia, which has a veto on the Security Council, refuses to back a resolution imposing an arms embargo or asset freeze.Russia, which has a veto on the Security Council, refuses to back a resolution imposing an arms embargo or asset freeze.
Anti-government protests again broke out in various towns and cities after Friday prayers.Anti-government protests again broke out in various towns and cities after Friday prayers.
Activists reported that security forces were shooting at a number of demonstrations, including in the provinces of Idlib and Deraa, in suburbs of the capital, Damascus, and in the central city of Hama. Activists reported that security forces were shooting at a number of demonstrations, including in the provinces of Idlib and Deraa, in suburbs of the capital, Damascus, in Aleppo and in the central city of Hama.
The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Syrian forces had surrounded a number of mosques in protest hotspots, including Deraa and the eastern city of Deir al-Zour.The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Syrian forces had surrounded a number of mosques in protest hotspots, including Deraa and the eastern city of Deir al-Zour.
It said two people had been killed in the Damascus suburb of Erbeen and a third in the town of Talbisseh in Homs province.
Another activist group, the Local Coordination Committees (LCC), said there had been a mass demonstration in Hama outside the home of Adnan Bakkour, to support the Hama attorney-general's decision to resign in protest at the killing of protesters.
The LCC reported another big protest in the northern city of Amuda, against Russian arms sales to Syria.
Access to Syria has been severely restricted for international journalists and it is rarely possible to verify accounts by witnesses and activists.Access to Syria has been severely restricted for international journalists and it is rarely possible to verify accounts by witnesses and activists.
There have been no casualty reports so far but the BBC's Owen Bennett-Jones, on the Lebanese-Syrian border, says that if the past 20 or so Fridays are anything to go by then people will again be killed on the country's streets. Activists on their Facebook page, Syrian Revolution 2011, had urged people out on to the streets under the slogan "death rather than humiliation", adding: "We are ready to die in the millions as martyrs."
Activists on their Facebook page, Syrian Revolution 2011, urged people out on to the streets under the slogan "death rather than humiliation", adding: "We are ready to die in the millions as martyrs." The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said seven people had been killed on Thursday, in Homs, Idlib and Deir al-Zour.
On Thursday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said four people were killed by security forces in the central region of Homs.
It said another person was shot dead by the army in the village of al-Rama, in Idlib province, while a young man and a 10-year-old girl died in Deir al-Zour.
Are you in Syria? Do you have family or friends in Syria? Send us your comments and experiences.Are you in Syria? Do you have family or friends in Syria? Send us your comments and experiences.
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