Assad is hit by Turkey sanctions

Turkey announced it had joined the Arab League and Western powers in imposing economic sanctions against the Syrian government yesterday, suspending all financial credit dealings and freezing assets belonging to President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

Syria's largest trading partner will block delivery of all weapons and military equipment, in an attempt to persuade Assad to end a crackdown on protesters. Senior officials in Assad's administration and business people who have provided strong support to the government will also be banned from travelling to Turkey.

Meanwhile, the European Union plans to add Syria's General Petroleum Corporation to its list of sanctioned companies, in a move designed to starve the government of vital oil revenues.