US lauds Turkey's sanctions on Syria
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Xinhua, December 1, 2011
The United States on Wednesday lauded the unilateral sanctions imposed on Syria by Turkey, calling on others to close ranks in upping the pressure.
"We commend the Turkish government for its announcement of economic sanctions and other measures against the Syrian regime," Tommy Vietor, spokesman of the White House National Security Council, said in a statement.
Saying the moves will send a strong message to Syrian President Bashar Assad and his circle that their actions are "unacceptable and will not be tolerated," Vietor called on other governments to "join the chorus of condemnation and pressure" against the Assad regime.
He said President Barack Obama has coordinated closely with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan throughout the crisis in Syria and will continue to do so going forward.
Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu announced on Wednesday a series of sanctions on Syria, including the freezing of its government assets in Turkey, a travel ban on Syrian leaders, and suspension of relations between the Turkish and Syrian central banks.
In addition, Turkey will block the delivery of all weapons and military equipment to Syria through its territory.
The unilateral moves came after the Arab League slapped on Sunday economic sanctions on Syria as well as a travel ban on high- ranking Syrian officials.
Davutoglu said that the Syrian regime "has come to the end of the road" by ignoring calls from the international community to stop its bloody crackdown on protesters.
Syria was plunged into turmoil in March when anti-government protests broke out. The United Nations estimates that more than 3, 500 people have died as a result of the crackdown.
The U.S. and its European allies have imposed a battery of targeted sanctions on Syria, and called on Assad to step down.
