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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Syria crisis: EU sanctions on Asma al-Assad | Syria crisis: EU sanctions on Asma al-Assad |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| EU foreign ministers have imposed a travel ban and asset freeze on the British-born wife of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and other family members. | |
| Asma al-Assad is among 12 people added to the sanctions list, which already includes her husband. | Asma al-Assad is among 12 people added to the sanctions list, which already includes her husband. |
| The ban cannot stop her from travelling to the UK, British officials say. | The ban cannot stop her from travelling to the UK, British officials say. |
| Anti-government activists accuse the regime of killing thousands of protesters over the past year. | Anti-government activists accuse the regime of killing thousands of protesters over the past year. |
| In recent weeks, the Damascus government has stepped up its efforts to crush pockets of rebellion in cities including Homs and Hama. | In recent weeks, the Damascus government has stepped up its efforts to crush pockets of rebellion in cities including Homs and Hama. |
| Every day, activists report dozens of deaths and more protests. | Every day, activists report dozens of deaths and more protests. |
| Window-dressing | Window-dressing |
| The envoy for the UN and the Arab League, Kofi Annan, is to travel to Moscow and Beijing this weekend for talks on the crisis, his office said. | The envoy for the UN and the Arab League, Kofi Annan, is to travel to Moscow and Beijing this weekend for talks on the crisis, his office said. |
| Russia and China have vetoed two UN Security Council resolutions on Syria for fear that intervention could lead to regime change, as happened in Libya last year. | Russia and China have vetoed two UN Security Council resolutions on Syria for fear that intervention could lead to regime change, as happened in Libya last year. |
| Mr Assad has promised political reform, but observers and his opponents have dismissed his plans as window-dressing. | Mr Assad has promised political reform, but observers and his opponents have dismissed his plans as window-dressing. |
| The BBC's Chris Morris in Brussels says for years there was a perception that Mrs Assad's Western upbringing could encourage reform in Syria. | The BBC's Chris Morris in Brussels says for years there was a perception that Mrs Assad's Western upbringing could encourage reform in Syria. |
| The 36-year-old, who is of Syrian descent, was born in the UK and spent much of her life in west London. The UK Border Agency has confirmed that Mrs Assad is British. | The 36-year-old, who is of Syrian descent, was born in the UK and spent much of her life in west London. The UK Border Agency has confirmed that Mrs Assad is British. |
| "British citizens subject to EU travel bans cannot be refused entry to the UK," a spokesman said. | "British citizens subject to EU travel bans cannot be refused entry to the UK," a spokesman said. |
| Mrs Assad, who worked as an investment banker in the City of London before her marriage in 2000, has generally played a low-key role in the regime. | Mrs Assad, who worked as an investment banker in the City of London before her marriage in 2000, has generally played a low-key role in the regime. |
| However, in February she wrote to Britain's Times newspaper to explain why she thought her husband was still the right man to lead Syria. | However, in February she wrote to Britain's Times newspaper to explain why she thought her husband was still the right man to lead Syria. |
| Other members of Mr Assad's family have also been added to the sanctions list. The AFP news agency says these include Mr Assad's mother, sister and sister-in-law. | Other members of Mr Assad's family have also been added to the sanctions list. The AFP news agency says these include Mr Assad's mother, sister and sister-in-law. |
| The EU already has extensive sanctions in place against Syria. These include a ban on arms sales and imports of Syrian oil. | The EU already has extensive sanctions in place against Syria. These include a ban on arms sales and imports of Syrian oil. |
| Last week activists released some 3,000 emails they said were from private accounts belonging to Mr Assad and his wife. | Last week activists released some 3,000 emails they said were from private accounts belonging to Mr Assad and his wife. |
| The messages, which have not been independently verified, suggested Mrs Assad continued to shop online for luxury goods even after the uprising was in full swing. | The messages, which have not been independently verified, suggested Mrs Assad continued to shop online for luxury goods even after the uprising was in full swing. |
| The UN says at least 8,000 people have died since the uprising against Mr Assad's regime began in March 2011. | The UN says at least 8,000 people have died since the uprising against Mr Assad's regime began in March 2011. |
| The president and his allies say terrorist and armed gangs are behind the violence, and say hundreds of security personnel have been killed fighting them. | The president and his allies say terrorist and armed gangs are behind the violence, and say hundreds of security personnel have been killed fighting them. |