EU urges more world pressure on Syrian regime

The European Union (EU) Tuesday urged countries around the world to increase pressure on the Syrian regime to stop its repression against the population following last Friday's massacre in the city of Houla where over 108 people were killed including 49 children. "We want the entire world community to intensity and increase its pressure on the Syrian regime. Despite the supposed ceasefire the violence has intensified," Michael Mann, spokesman for EU High Representative Catherine Ashton, told journalists in Brussels. "Of course we are exerting pressure on the Assad regime because it is the Assad regime which is exerting violence on the population but we are asking everyone to stop the violence," he said. Mann clarified that anything the international community does has to be in accordance with the UNSC resolutions. He said Ashton spoke to the special UN/Arab League envoy on Syria, Kofi Annan, on Sunday who informed her about his trip to Damascus. They also discussed the issues of humanitarian access, prisoners, the opposition and the role of Russia in the Syrian crisis. "The key message that Ashton is sending is that the Syrian regime must comply completely and immediately with the six-point Annan plan. This is not an open-ended offer. It is the best way to sort out the problem and they have to react immediately," said the EU spokesman. "The Annan plan is the plan of the UN and the Arab League. We have put our weight behind the plan," stressed Mann. He noted that the EU's political and security committee will meet in Brussels this afternoon to discuss the situation in Syria and what measures to take next. The EU will also raise the issue with Russia durign the EU-Russia summit next week, he said, adding that "Russia plays a very important part in this not only due to the fact that it is a major player in world foreign affairs but also because it has relationship with Syria going back a long time." Mann said the 16th round of EU sanctions imposed on Syria are affecting the regime and he did not rule out expanding those sanctions.