Associated Press/AFP, (Damascus, Syria-AP) — Syria is criticizing what it says is the work of extremists in Washington.
Syria's official media today criticized a bill approved by the House International Relations Committee. If enacted, the measure would give the president the right to impose sanctions on Syria.
A state-run newspaper says the bill was drawn up by “ultra-extremists who are doing their best to make the atmosphere tense between Arabs and the American administration.”
The legislation would ban the export of weapons to Syria as well as items that could be used in weapons programs. And it would allow the president to impose other sanctions.
Source: AP
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EU says won't follow US sanctions move on Syria
The European Union has no plans to follow the United States in moving to impose wide-ranging sanctions on Syria, the European Commission said Thursday.
“It is obviously not our position, we are in the process of negotiating an association agreement with Syria,” said Emma Udwin, spokeswoman for External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten.
“The policy of isolating Syria is not the most productive,” she added.
On Wednesday, a key US congressional body, the House International Relations Committee, voted in favor of diplomatic and economic sanctions against Damascus, accusing it of supporting terrorism and developing weapons of mass destruction,
The White House also said it would no longer oppose legislation allowing the sanctions resolution, meaning it has a strong chance of being passed by the full House of Representatives next week.
The motion came in the wake of an air strike last Sunday by Israel on what it said was a training camp for Palestinian militants outside Damascus, an attack that caused concern at the European Union.
