EU extends sanctions to President Assad's wife

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his wife Asma Credit: AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File

EU leaders have agreed on new sanctions targetting 12 members connected with the Syrian regime, including President Bashir al-Assad's wife, mother and sister.

The sanctions include an asset freeze and a ban on travelling to EU countries, however, Foreign Secretary William Hague admitted that as a British passport-holder Assad's wife, Asma al-Assad, will still be able to enter the UK.

The news came amid reports of violent crackdowns on civilians taking part in protests across Syria. Ausama Monajed, a spokesman for the opposition Syrian National Council, called the EU measures "too little too late".

ITV News Correspondent Paul Davies reports:

The recent leak of private emails between Asma al-Assad and her husband to The Guardian revealed their luxury lifestyle. They show that Asma spent thousands of dollars on luxury fashion, jewellery and furniture from European labels and boutiques, including Harrods in London.

When asked whether the travel ban would put an end to her shopping trips to London, Hague replied simply that he didn't expect this to happen.

A former acquaintance of Asma al-Assad, Brigid Keenan, told ITV News that she was surprised she had not already left Syria.

This is the 13th round of sanctions imposed by the EU, which are believed to affect some 126 individuals and 41 entities.

Whilst opposition groups have welcomed the new sanctions, they are concerned that they will not have an impact. Previous sanctions on family members have had no noticeable effect.

EU officials have not revealed the full list of people and companies hit by sanctions, fearing that they would move their assets out of Europe preemptively.