Syria opens bank account in Lebanon

BEIRUT, Lebanon, June 23 (UPI) -- Syria's Central Bank has opened an account at the Lebanese Central Bank in what some say could be an end run around sanctions, the Beirut Daily Star reported.

Such a move wouldn't normally be considered unusual but it comes at a time when the United States and the European Union are trying to exert pressure in the wake of continuing demonstrations, the Star reported Thursday.

The newspaper said a source familiar with the banks warned Lebanon to be careful about opening the account in light of the sanctions imposed on Syria where demonstrators are calling for the overthrow of President Bashar Assad.

The U.N. Security Council is expected to consider a resolution condemning Syria's use of violence against demonstrators since uprisings began about three months ago, the report said.

Assad and other senior Syrian officials have been banned from traveling to European Union countries and their assets in the EU were frozen in May.