US sanctions Syrian govt officials

The US is stepping up pressure on Syria by levying sanctions against six senior government officials and a Moscow-based bank and its senior executive for supporting President Bashar Assad. The sanctions announced on Thursday by the Treasury Department target Tempbank for supporting the Syrian government, the country's central bank and Syria's state oil marketing firm. The six senior Syrian officials sanctioned include Brig. Gen. Bassam al-Hassan, an adviser to Assad. Two Syrian refining companies also were sanctioned. Treasury official David Cohen says the action freezes assets and chokes off Syrian access to the international financial system, according to a news agency.