In response to worsening security conditions for civilians in Syria, Switzerland has again toughened sanctions against the Middle Eastern country, targeting any military, financial or technical services which could be used to repress the people.
The Swiss economics ministry said on Wednesday it had undertaken a “total revision” of sanctions imposed to date and had added several people and companies to the list of those banned from entering or doing business with Switzerland.
In particular, Bouthaina Shaaban, political and media advisor to President Bashar al-Assad is now subject to Swiss sanctions, as well as the defence and interior ministries, the National Security Office and state radio and television broadcasters.
The Syria International Islamic Bank (SIIB) is now subject to Swiss sanctions, as are all banking relations with Syria. Previously, Swiss financial institutions were barred only from establishing new business with Syrian banks.
Switzerland had previously announced sanctions against al-Assad and members of his family and close entourage, including the freezing of assets and restrictions on travel. To date, some SFr70 million ($72.6 million) in Syrian assets have been frozen and financial and travel sanctions applied to more than 128 people and 42 businesses linked to the Syrian regime.
Deadly attacks
The revision of Swiss sanctions comes as fighting in al-Assad’s stronghold of Damascus entered its fourth day.
On Wednesday, Reuters reported an army barracks near the presidential palace came under fire by rebels attempting to oust the government.
And Syrian state television reported defence minister Dawoud Rajha and President Bashar al-Assad’s brother-in-law Assef Shawkat, who was deputy defence minister, had been killed in in a suicide bomb attack on the national security building during a meeting of cabinet ministers and other senior security officials.
Also on Wednesday, the United Nations Security Council is due to vote on a new Syria resolution. But with Russia flatly opposed to any mention of sanctions or a text tied to chapter 7 of the UN Charter which could eventually allow the use of force to end the conflict, the body is unlikely to unite behind a plan to end the violence which has gripped the country for 17 months.
The Syrian revolt began in March 2011 with mostly peaceful protests, but a government crackdown led many in the opposition to take up arms. The uprising has since mutated into a civil war.
In a speech on June 26, the Syrian president said the country was now „at war“ and that all sectors of the government and country must devote their energies to the war effort.
The United Nations has said more than 10,000 people have been killed by Syrian government forces – activists say 14,000 – while Syria has said at least 2,600 members of the military and security forces have been killed by „Islamist terrorists“.
The UN says 96,000 refugees have fled the conflict in Syria to neighbouring countries. This figure is expected to double by the end of 2012; some 1.5 million people need humanitarian assistance inside the country.