EU leaders call for further Syria sanctions

(BRUSSELS) - Europe's leaders on Thursday pledged to tighten the noose on Syria with fresh sanctions failing an end to violence and rights abuses by the regime.

A draft EU summit statement obtained by AFP said the 27-nation bloc "confirms its commitment to further increasing the pressure on the Syrian regime as long as the violence and human rights abuse continues".

It also called on EU foreign ministers to prepare further targeted restrictive measures against the regime.

EU ministers last week slapped fresh sanctions on Syria, including a freeze on its central bank assets, the 12th round of EU sanctions against President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

Measures also included an assets freeze and travel ban on seven Syrian ministers, a ban on trade in gold and precious metals and a ban on cargo flights to the EU operated by Syrians.

The EU has already blacklisted almost 150 Syrian entities and people.