The US has imposed its first-ever sanctions against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad over human rights violations against anti-Government protestors.
There has been international condemnation of the regime's violent crackdown during two months of unrest in which human rights groups say at least 700 civilians have been killed.
The US told Mr Assad yesterday to lead a transition or step down.
The news came as Syrian forces were accused of killing at least eight people in a besieged border town and as Mr Assad said the two-month-old revolt against had been mishandled by the authorities but was now drawing to a close.
US President Barack Obama imposed sanctions on Mr Assad and six top aides to ‘increase pressure on the government of Syria to end its use of violence and begin transitioning to a democratic system that ensures the universal rights of the Syrian people,’ said an executive order.
In imposing the sanctions, the Obama administration stopped short of saying Mr Assad had lost his legitimacy to rule, a formula Washington has applied to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi whose forces are engaged in a war with rebels.
The sanctions target Vice President Faruq al-Shara, Prime Minister Adel Safar, Interior Minister Mohammed Ibrahim al-Shaar, Defence Minister Ali Habib Mahmud, military intelligence chief Abdul Fatah Qudsiya, and Mohammed Dib Zaitoun, Director of the Political Security Directorate.
Mr Assad had been spared sanctions until now, two months into the protests that were inspired by other pro-democracy movements sweeping the Arab world, including those that have ousted the Egyptian and Tunisian leaders.
On 30 April, Mr Obama imposed asset freezes and restrictions on financial transactions, notably against Maher al-Assad, the powerful brother of the president, who commands Syria's feared Fourth Armoured Division.
In parallel actions, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on two Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard commanders, Qasam Soleimani and Mohsen Chizari, for the role they have allegedly played in supporting the crackdown by ally Syria.
The treasury has also imposed sanctions on three entities: Syrian Military Intelligence, the Syrian National Security Bureau and Syrian Air Force Intelligence, as well as Hafiz Makhluf, a cousin of Mr Assad.
The steps have been dismissed in Damascus by officials and Syrian analysts.
State news agency SANA said the sanctions were an attack on the Syrian people on behalf of arch-foe Israel and vowed they would have no impact on 'Syria's independent will.'
Syrian political analyst Imad Shuaibi has said that these sanctions are a formality, they will not affect Syria.
Imad Shuaibi added that the sanctions also appeared to be aimed at prodding Europe into following suit.
