OTTAWA, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- Sanctions imposed against Syria by the Canadian government prohibit economic activity related to the country's oil sector, the foreign minister said.
Syria is facing near-universal condemnation for its crackdown on the uprising against President Bashar Assad. The United Nations estimates around 3,000 people were killed during the unrest, which began in mid-March.
Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird announced sanctions on Assad's regime that put travel bans and asset freezes on members and supporters of the regime. Additional measures ban the import, purchase, acquisition, carrying or shipment of petroleum or petroleum-related products from Syria.
"The push for political change has claimed thousands of lives with no sign the violence is letting up," Baird said in a statement. "We are committed to working with our international partners to pressure President Assad to step aside."
Syria had exported crude oil to European countries. The 150,000 barrels of crude exported each day provided Damascus with around 30 percent of its revenue.
The U.N. Security Council was unable to pass a resolution against Syria because of vetoes from China and Russia. The United States said, because of the veto, it was "quite a sad day."
