US Sanctions Target President Bashar al-Assad

Bashar al Assad

President Assad has said the security forces made some mistakes in their handling of protests. The United States has imposed sanctions on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for human rights abuses. It represents the first time Mr Assad has been targeted specifically by the international community for his government's crackdown on protesters.

President Barack Obama last month imposed sanctions on his brother Maher, his cousin and an intelligence chief. A US state department official said it was time for Mr Assad "to lead a political transition or to leave".
Meanwhile, Mr Assad has said his security services made some mistakes in their handling of demonstrations, the al-Watan newspaper reported. He attributed the shortcomings to a lack of experience with such situations, which he said would normally be the police's responsibility.

Mr Assad also "gave assurances that Syria had overcome the crisis" and that "events were coming to an end", the newspaper added.The admission came as  new reports arrived of attacks on civilians in Tal Kalakh, near the border with Lebanon, which has been besieged for several days. Activists say at least 27 people have died.

The executive order signed by Mr Obama on Wednesday punishes Mr Assad and six senior Syrian officials for human rights abuses. It is not everyday that the US imposes sanctions on the president of a country. North Korea and Iran are listed as state sponsors of terrorism by the State Department and face tough sanctions. Kim Jong-il and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are Washington's bete noires. Yet they personally face no sanctions. Bashar al-Assad is now in the company of the Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi, and the President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko.

Although it is symbolic move because Assad and the other officials have no assets here, it is a strong signal that Washington now sees Mr Assad as personally responsible for the crackdown. They had so far avoided making a direct link between him and the violence, holding to their view of him as a reformer. They have not asked him to step down yet, but a US official said Mr Assad had a choice - lead a transition to democracy or leave. It also means the US and Europe will no longer be satisfied by the half measures that Mr Assad's resorted to so far to maintain his image as a reformer.

The others named are:
Vice-President Farouk al-Sharaa
Prime Minister Adel Safar
Interior Minister Mohammed al-Shaar
Defence Minister Ali Habib
Abdul Fatah Qudsiya, the head of Military intelligence
Mohammed Dib Zaitoun, the head of the Political Security Directorate

Mr Obama wanted to "increase pressure on the government of Syria to end its use of violence and begin transitioning to a democratic system that ensures the universal rights of the Syrian people", an official said.
The US and EU have already imposed sanctions on other senior figures close to Mr Assad, but have so far stopped short of targeting him. The new measures freeze any assets they have in US jurisdiction and make it illegal for Americans to do business with them.

The BBC's Kim Ghattas in Washington says the direct impact will be minimal, however, as it is unlikely that any of those targeted hold any assets in the US. But the move is a tough message to Syria, and it is a sign the US is close to full giving up on Mr Assad as a potential reformer, she adds.

It has not yet called on the Syrian leader to go, although one senior state department official said on Wednesday that he had a choice now. "We are saying that we oppose his behaviour and that he needs to stop his policies of repression and mass arrests and begin a political transition that ensures fair representation and democratic rights for Syrians," the official told reporters. The administration's insistence on not punishing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has puzzled foreign policy experts around Washington. "We are also saying that Assad is isolating himself from the international community due to his egregious actions. It is up to Assad to lead a political transition or to leave."

Human rights activists say more than 850 people have been killed and thousands arrested in the operation launched to quell dissent in March. The Syrian government blames most of the violence on "armed criminal gangs", saying they have killed more than 120 soldiers and police.
The sanctions were announced the day before a major speech on the uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa by Mr Obama. Stay strong Mr Obama, don't lose courage now. The world looks to you to protect innocent and helpless people from killers and tyrants. You showed us your strength in the manner in which you handled al Qaeda leader bin Laden.... Hang tough sir.