Treasury designates Syrians, entities

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1 (UPI) -- High-ranking Syrians and Syrian entities identified as working with the regime were designated for financial isolation, the U.S. Treasury Department said.

The designations of Muhammad Makhluf and Aus Aslan bars U.S. residents and companies from conducting business with the pair and any assets they have under U.S. jurisdiction are blocked, the department said Thursday in a release.

In addition, U.S. persons are generally prohibited from doing business with the Military Housing Establishment and Real Estate Bank, Treasury officials said.

"It has never been more critical to escalate pressure on the Syrian government to immediately cease all violence against its own people and isolate the regime from the international financial system," said David S. Cohen, undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. "We will continue to work closely with our partners in Europe and around the world to hasten a transition to democracy in Syria."

The U.S. designations, and actions by the Arab League, Turkey and the European Union, show an international commitment to pressure President Bashar Assad to end his violent response against pro-democracy demonstrators, the Treasury Department said.

Makhluf, an uncle of Assad, served as Assad's primary economic adviser and is a longtime financial adviser to the Assad family. Treasury said Makhluf ensured assets in nearly all economic sectors were controlled by businessmen who were paid to act on behalf of the Assad regime.

Aslan is a general in the Syrian military and commander in Syria's 4th Armored Division, a regime protection unit.

The Military Housing Establishment, a public works company controlled by the Syrian Ministry of Defense, provides funding to the regime, Treasury said. Real Estate Bank is owned by the Syrian government's Public Debt Fund, the institution responsible for administering government borrowing.