U.S., EU discuss more sanctions against Syria
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U.S. State Secretary Hillary Clinton said on Tuesday that she and visiting European Union High Representative for foreign policy Catherine Ashton discussed more possible sanctions against Syria.
"Today, we discussed additional steps that we can take to increase pressure and further isolate the Assad regime," Clinton told reporters after meeting with Ashton at the State Department.
She said the two expressed "serious concern" about the continued violence in Syria.
Clinton accused Syrian authorities of refusing to "honor the legitimate aspirations of their own people."
"President Assad talks about reform, but his heavy-handed brutal crackdown shows his true intentions," she said.
She also laid out three demands for the Syrian government: stop the violence and the arrests, release all political prisoners and detainees, and begin to respond to the demands of the Syrian people.
On April 29, U.S. President Barack Obama signed an executive order imposing sanctions against Syrian officials and entities.
Syria has been in unrest for two months after anti-government demonstrations broke out in the southern province of Daraa. The protests have spread to several other Syrian cities, leading to the death of dozens of protesters and policemen.
The ruling Baath party of Syria, which has ruled the country for decades, announced a package of reforms, including the increase of salaries and release of political detainees.
