Seven Syrian ministers added to EU sanctions list

European Union countries on Monday added Syria's interior minister and six other new ministers to a sanctions blacklist for their role in President Bashar al-Assad's "violent repression" of civilians.

The European Council grouping the 28 member countries said the ministers who were appointed to Assad's government in November have been barred from travelling to Europe and will see their assets frozen.

"The Council today added seven ministers of the government of Syria to the list of persons and entities subject to restrictive measures against the

Syrian regime and its supporters," the Council said in a statement. With the additions, there are now 277 people under EU sanctions for their role in the "violent repression" of civilians in Syria and for their links to the Assad regime.

The EU said the seven new people on the list are Major General Mohammad Khaled al-Rahmoun, the interior minister, and Mohammad Rami Radwan Martini, the tourism minister.

The five others are education minister