英语新闻：欧盟制裁叙利亚总统

英语自学网

　　The European Union has sanctioned Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in a bid
to pressure his government amid a crackdown on anti-government protesters.The EU
added Mr. Assad and other senior officials to a list banning them from traveling
to the EU and freezing their European assets. An earlier set of EU sanctions
this month included 13 Syrian officials, including Maher al-Assad, who is the
president's brother and commands a division of Syria's army.Last week, the
United States imposed sanctions on Mr. Assad and six of his aides, saying it was
holding them personally responsible for deadly attacks by security forces.
        　　Syrian rights activists say more than 850 civilians have been killed since
mid-March, when protesters began calling for democratic reforms and Mr. Assad's
ouster. Authorities have arrested 7,000 people as part of the crackdown.