The European Union tightened sanctions against Syria by imposing restrictions on President Bashar al-Assad on Monday, raising pressure on his government to end violence against protesters, EU diplomats said.
EU foreign ministers agreed at a meeting in Brussels to add several Syrian officials, including Assad, to a list people affected by EU travel restrictions and asset freezes.
"Technically, the legal act has been accepted," one EU diplomat said, but he added that EU foreign ministers would still discuss the move at the meeting on Monday.
