Syria Sanctions Group Denounces Arms Sales to Regime

A group of 50 countries supporting sanctions against Bashar al-Assad's Syrian regime on Tuesday issued a statement denouncing continued arms sales to Damascus.

After meeting in Paris, the countries expressed "strong disapproval of any financial or other support, in particular the continuation of arms sales to the Syrian regime", in a clear reference to Russia.

They called on all states "that have not yet applied pressure to join in our efforts and further isolate the Syrian regime."

The statement also urged "businessmen who are financially supporting this bloody repression... to break their links with the regime."

The meeting was attended by officials from the European Union, Arab League, United States, Switzerland, Australia, Canada and Turkey, but not by officials from Russia, Iran, Lebanon or Iraq.

The statement said the goal was to obtain "the Syrian authorities' complete respect of their obligations under joint United Nations-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan's plan and the implementation of a political transition meeting the democratic aspirations of the Syrian people."

"Sanctions are not targeting the Syrian civilian population," it said, blaming Syrian economic difficulties on the isolated regime which "discourages through its attitude all economic activity in Syria."

In the year since the start of the uprising just over a year ago -- during which time 11,000 civilians have been killed, according to rights monitors -- several states and organizations have imposed unilateral sanctions.

Attempts to create a unified international sanctions regime under the U.N. Security Council were vetoed by Russia and China, but Western powers and the Arab League are pushing for tougher global action.

The group will meet again next month in Washington.