Brussels, 26/04/2011 (Agence Europe) - In the wake of the violent intervention of the Syrian army in the city of Deraa, which left dozens of protesters dead, the EU was apparently busy on Tuesday 26 April, preparing sanctions against the regime of President Bachar el-Assad. Catherine Ashton, the head of the European Service for External Action (SEAE), was in consultation with the Member States to see what "further action" could be taken to the EU in response to the massacres of recent days. A spokesperson to Lady Ashton declined to confirm that this action would take the form of sanctions, but "sanctions are obviously an option", she said. If the 27 agree to sanctions - for example, a visa ban on those responsible for the repression and/or a freezing of their assets in Europe - "these measures could be taken very quickly", a diplomat explained.
Earlier on Tuesday, the British Foreign Secretary, William Hague, confirmed that London was working with the UN and the Member States of the EU, with the aim of sending out "a clear message" to the Syrian regime that it must stop its violent repression of demonstrators. "The UK is working intensively with its international partners to convince the Syrian authorities to put an end to violence and to observe human rights", he said. The United Kingdom, France, Germany and Portugal have circulated a draft condemnation of Damascus within the Security Council, diplomats went on to indicate. Rome and Paris have also expressed their "concern" at the situation in Syria, and called on Tuesday on President Bachar el-Assad's regime to "stop the violent repression (…) and implement the announced reforms", said the head of the Italian government, Silvio Berlusconi, after the Franco-Italian summit with French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Rome (see other articles). Mr Sarkozy described the situation in Syria as "unacceptable". "You do not send tanks and the Army to deal with protesters", he told the press conference with Mr Berlusconi. The German MEP Michael Gahler (EPP) called on the Member States and the EU to call their ambassadors home from Syria and to adopt "targeted sanctions" against the leaders of the regime. (H.B./transl.fl)