EU imposes sanctions against the Syrian.

BRUSSELS - The European Union imposed sanctions on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and other senior members of his Cabinet on Monday, increasing pressure on Syria to put an end to weeks of violence against demonstrators.

The EU ministers agreed at a meeting in Brussels, with the expansion of the restrictions against Syria, adding Assad and nine other members of the government list of people banned from traveling to the EU and subject to freezing.
Syria condemned the sanctions, saying his intention was "a clear and flagrant interference in internal affairs of Syria and an attempt to destabilize its security," said one official news agency Sana.
The Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem said the sanctions "will harm the interests of Syria as well as the interests of Europe, and that Syria will not remain silent on this measure."
He added that the country hopes for more measures, but not a military action against Syria.
The initiative follows the EU's sanctions against 13 key ally of Assad and an arms embargo, imposed in early May, in response to repression of the protests for political reform.
The 27 foreign ministers said in a statement it had "decided to reinforce the restrictions, with the appointment of other persons, including the highest level of leadership."
"The EU is determined to take further measures without delay if the Syrian leadership chooses not to change its current stance," they added.
The German Foreign Minister, Guido Westerwelle, said it was necessary to broaden the sanctions against key leaders of Syria.
"If one represses its own people as well, responds to the peaceful demonstrations by force, can not remain without a response from the European Union," he said.
PRESSURE OF THE USA
In London, Secretary of State U.S., Hillary Clinton, also urged Assad to stop the violence, saying that nearly 1,000 people died. The United States has imposed sanctions against the Syrian president.
"This cruelty must stop and the legitimate aspirations of the Libyan people should be honored," Clinton said. "Stop the killings, beatings, arrests and release all political prisoners," she added.
The Syrian security forces killed 11 people in the city of Homs, on Saturday during a funeral of dead protesters who protested against the Assad regime, witnesses said.
Human rights groups estimate that more than 800 civilians were killed by security forces in an attempt to suppress over two months of protests that have spread from Syria to southern cities across the country.
The Syrian authorities blame the armed groups backed by Islamists and foreign powers for most of the violence in the country, saying they have killed more than 120 members of security forces.