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Arab League approves Syria sanctions

Syrian protestors burn pictures of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in front of of the Arab League headquarters during the Arab League emergency session on Syria at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, November12, 2011. The Arab League has voted to suspend Syria from all meetings until it implements plan to end bloodshed in the civil protests. UPI/ Ahmed Ahmed
Syrian protestors burn pictures of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in front of of the Arab League headquarters during the Arab League emergency session on Syria at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, November12, 2011. The Arab League has voted to suspend Syria from all meetings until it implements plan to end bloodshed in the civil protests. UPI/ Ahmed Ahmed | License Photo

DAMASCUS, Syria, Nov. 27 (UPI) -- The Arab League approved economic sanctions against Syria as at least 10 civilian protesters were killed Sunday, a rights group said.

Foreign ministers of the Arab League convened in the suburbs of Cairo Sunday to approve actions against Syria's violent crackdown on anti-government protesters, The New York Times reported.

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"Trade exchanges between Arab governments and the Syrian government are to be halted, except for those related to the strategic goods needed by the Syrian people," a statement issued by the finance ministers said, News24.com reported.

Commercial flights to Syria from Arab countries and travel by officials and politicians are believed to be halted, the Times said. The restrictions come as a blow to Syria's economy, which has already been sanctioned by the European Union and the United States.

The ministers called on Arab governments to stop dealing with Syria's central bank and called on Arab countries to freeze assets owned by Syrian officials and withdraw investments in Syria, News24.com said.

Some Syrians are worried the restrictions will only hurt the poor and middle class.

"I think it is time the world realized that economic sanctions are not affecting anyone but the Syrian people," an unidentified 23-year-old resident from Damascus told the Times. "Those who couldn't afford buying bread, now can't afford even smelling bread."

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Syria has repeatedly ignored deadlines to allow Arab monitors to enter the country, observe the civil unrest and enter dialogue with the opposition, News24.com said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights in London said 10 civilians were killed across the country Sunday; 3,500 have died since protests began in March, the Times said.

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