Assad wife faces EU sanctions

An acquaintance of Asma al-Assad, President Assad's wife, has told ITV News that Asma was "completely charming" and that she is surprised she has not left Syria. Brigid Keenan lived in Syria for five years with her husband, a British diplomat.

A resident in Damascus told ITV News what he thought of the sanctions imposed by the European Union on Syrian First Lady Alma al-Assad.

He said: "We consider her now as stupid as Marie Antoinette - she cares only about buying expensive stuff online.

"There is a very high sense of not caring about the Syrian people, it's ironic how they live both of them, and how the rest of the Syrian people live, and all of that money that they spend freely with such a pleasure, was taxed and collected from the Syrian pockets"

A resident of the Syrian town of Homs has told ITV News that the town has come under heavy shelling again today:

The Foreign Secretary William Hague was asked whether the travel ban on Syrian officials agreed today will affect Asma al-Assad, the wife of President Assad and a British passport-holder. He said that she would still have the right of entry to the UK, but that the asset freeze would affect her:

The Foreign Secretary William Hague has welcomed the new round of sanctions on Syria agreed today by EU leaders. He said:

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said sanctions would send a strong signal to President Bashar al-Assad that the international community opposed his actions and wanted him to give up power.

She said the international community's objective was "a situation where Assad recognises his responsibility, moves aside and we are able to see a genuine movement forward in Syria".

The European Union has banned the wife of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from travelling to the EU or shopping with European companies in a move to stop her buying the Chanel dresses and Louboutin shoes she craves.

After the new sanctions, EU border guards will refuse her entry if she tries to travel into the bloc. But Britain will have to allow her in if she uses a British passport.