WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is welcoming the European Union's decision to sanction Syrian officials for cracking down on anti-government protesters.
An EU official said the organization next week will freeze the assets of 13 Syrian government officials and ban them from traveling anywhere in the European Union. Syrian President Bashar Assad will not be affected.
Last week, President Barack Obama imposed financial penalties against three top Syrian officials, Syria's intelligence agency and Iran's Revolutionary Guard over the violent crackdown on demonstrators in Syria.
On Friday, the White House warned that the U.S. and its allies will take additional steps to register its disapproval with Syria's behavior.
Witnesses say Syrian security forces fired on protesters Friday as thousands joined nationwide demonstrations demanding an end to Assad's regime.
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