EU to sanction Assad's wife, mother, sister, sister-in-law
(BRUSSELS) - EU foreign ministers were set Friday to slap sanctions on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's British-born wife Asma, as well as his mother, sister and sister-in-law, an EU diplomat told AFP.
European Union foreign ministers gathering in Brussels for talks were expected to back proposals to slap an assets freeze and travel ban on "Assad's wife, mother, sister and sister-in-law" as well as eight other members of his entourage, the diplomat said.
The ministers, who in 12 previous rounds of sanctions against the Assad regime have already blacklisted some 150 firms and people, will also decide whether to add two extra firms to the list.
Assad himself was targeted by EU restrictive measures as far back as May.
The Syrian first lady is a British national, however, and in London officials said an EU travel ban could not prevent her from entering Britain.
"British citizens subject to EU travel bans cannot be refused entry to the UK," said a UK Border Agency spokesperson.
But the ban would stop her from travelling to the other 26 EU nations, an EU diplomat said.
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