EU Foreign Ministers Agree New Sanctions against Syria

EU foreign ministers slapped a 15th round of sanctions against President Bashar Assad due to the "appalling violence" in Syria and discussed further support for Kofi Annan's peace plan.

The new European Union sanctions, to take effect Tuesday, mean 129 people and 43 firms or utilities are now targeted by an assets freeze and travel ban for backing the regime's 14-month campaign of relentless repression.

"The continuing violence is appalling and we continue to look again at sanctions," said EU foreign policy Chief Catherine Ashton.

The last sanctions came barely a month ago, targeting the lifestyle of the Assad clique with a ban on luxury goods exports.

The bloc this year also froze central bank assets and restricted trade in precious metals as it tightened the noose on Damascus following an arms and oil embargo.

"The ceasefire is not being fully implemented," said British Foreign Secretary William Hague. "There continues to be killing, torture, abuse in Syria. So it's very important we keep the pressure on the Assad regime."

"We must maintain political pressure," agreed Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn.

Ministers also urged a quick deployment of all ceasefire observers under the peace plan brokered by U.N.-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan, which the EU sees as the only possible way to avoid all-out civil war in Syria.

"I hope all of them will come in as soon as possible," said Sweden's Carl Bildt. "We do see that that leads to a sort of reduction in violence and repression in areas where they are able to be."

A failure of the Annan plan would be "a rapid descent into sectarian civil war," said Bildt.

"That would be profoundly devastating for Syria and the entire region."

Ashton said the bloc at the weekend delivered a fleet of armored vehicles to help Annan's mission. Diplomats said the EU had financed 25 vehicles and said further medical assistance might also be offered.

Commenting on the Annan mission, Ashton said: "We will continue to support him for as long as he wishes to continue with this mission. For the moment he believes this is the best way forward."

While describing it as "the right plan" and "the best plan", Hague warned "it is not open-ended" though he offered no alternative.