EU sanctions hone in on Syria leader

(BRUSSELS) - The European Union tightened the noose Tuesday on President Bashar al-Assad, enforcing sanctions targeting his brother and inner circle, and warning the Syrian leader that he could be next.

The EU placed Assad's younger brother Maher al-Assad, 43, on a list of 13 senior officials slapped with an EU asset freeze and travel ban from Tuesday as part of a package of measures, including an embargo on arms and on equipment used for internal repression.

Four of the president's cousins were also on the list.

The 13, including Syria's intelligence chief General Ali Mamluk, and new Interior Minister Mohammed Ibrahim al-Shaar, were blacklisted for involvement in "violence against demonstrators."

The EU, divided over what action to take to stem the savagery of Syria's crackdown on protesters, spared Assad while warning that failing an immediate policy U-turn, he too could face punitive action.

In a statement issued as the sanctions took effect, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said the measures aimed to achieve an immediate change of policy, ending the cycle of violence and swiftly introducing "genuine and comprehensive political reform."

"Failing that, the EU will consider extending the restrictive measures in light of the developments, including at the highest level of leadership," she said.

Foreign ministers from the 27-nation bloc would take a fresh look at the question at talks on May 23, she said.

In Berlin, German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle warned Syria it would face stronger EU action if the brutality does not end.

"The sanctions decided are a first step," he said. "If Damascus continues its crackdown, we will step up the pressure."

As the human rights picture blackened by the day in Syria, Britain, France and Germany urged a swift and strong response from their partners.

But smaller states -- notably southern Europeans Cyprus, Portugal and Greece, with traditionally stronger ties with Damascus -- have been reticent to target Assad.

"Those in favour of a softyly-softly approach favour giving him time to change while also arguing in favour of keeping a channel of communication open with his regime," said a European diplomat who asked not to be identified.

Estonia for its part has been concerned for seven of its nationals kidnapped in Syria's neighbour Lebanon, and possibly now on the Syrian side of the border.

Some analysts too are sceptical about the impact of sanctions.

"Outside actors possess little leverage, particularly at a time when the regime feels its survival is at stake," said the Brussels-based International Crisis Group. "It has survived past periods of international isolation and likely feels it can weather the storm again."

"Broader sanctions run the dual risk of serving the regime by bolstering the claim that it is facing a foreign conspiracy," the group added.

Others targeted by the EU include political security chief Mohammed Dib Zeitoun, military intelligence chief Abd Al-Fatah Qudsiyah, and air force intelligence chief Jamil Hassan.

The EU also sanctioned two men considered close to Maher al-Assad: Colonel Hafez Makhluf, a cousin of Assad who heads an intelligence unit, and Rami Makhluf, a Syrian businessman accused of bankrolling the regime therefore "allowing violence against demonstrators."

Another cousin and former head of political security in the southern protest city of Daraa, Atef Najib, was on the EU list as well as the current head of political security in the coastal city of Banias, Amjad Al-Abbas.

In Banias on Monday, security forces rounded up thousands of men as they went house to house in a bid to crush an anti-regime protest movement.

Rights groups say more than 600 people have been killed and 8,000 jailed or gone missing in the eight-week crackdown on protesters.

Also facing EU sanctions are Rustum Ghazali, head of the Damascus countryside branch of military intelligence and two members of the Shabiha militia also cousins to the president, Fawwaz al-Assad and Mundir al-Assad.