Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union is extending sanctions against Syrian President Bashar Assad and his closest allies for another year, citing continued repression and human rights abuses.
The EU said in a statement Thursday that "the situation in Syria continues to deteriorate," enough cause to extend travel bans and asset freezes to some 200 Syrian officials and 70 entities.
The EU also has an arms embargo and export restrictions on sensitive materials. It has an import ban on crude oil and bans EU companies to invest in the Syrian oil industry.
The Syria conflict is now in its fifth year, and more than 220,000 people have been killed.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
