Switzerland has beefed up its sanctions against Syria, adding twelve names to the list of people banned whose assets have been frozen.
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The move comes in response to continued government violence against civilians in Syria, and follows tougher sanctions introduced by the European Union.
Announcing the sanctions in a statement on Wednesday, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco) said four companies, believed to be sources of finance for the Syrian government, had also been added to the list.
Three of the companies are controlled by people in the entourage of President Bachar Al-Assad’s, himself already subject to Swiss sanctions.
Among the 12 people added to the list is Syrian defense minister Ali Habib Mahmoud.
The new measures bring to 35 the number of Syrians who have been slapped with Swiss sanctions in response to harsh government repression of peaceful protests in that country.
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