EU hits Syria with more sanctions

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LUXEMBOURG, April 23 (UPI) -- Despite a cease-fire, members of the European Union have expressed "deep concern" over the continuing violence in Syria, an official said Monday.

The European Union announced Monday it adopted restrictive measures on the export of any technology that could be used by the Syrian government for "internal repression."

Catherine Ashton, high representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs, said she was working with members of the international community to ensure repression in Syria ends.

"We have imposed additional sanctions against the Syrian regime because of deep concern about the situation and the continuing violence, in spite of the cease-fire," she said in a statement.

Syria agreed to an April 12 deadline for a cease-fire under the terms of a plan brokered by former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

The Local Coordination Committees in Syria, an umbrella organization in the country, reported Monday that "regime snipers" had opened fire in the restive neighborhood of Baba Amr.

"The government's use of shelling and heavy weaponry, in particular in Homs, has reached levels that surpass those before the cease-fire," said U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice.

A supervisor mission of 300 unarmed observers was approved by the United Nations last weekend.