Italy, Germany urge Security Council sanctions against Syria

At a meeting on Sunday, foreign ministers of Italy and Germany have called on the UN Security Council to effectively respond to violence against civilians in Syria. Italy's recently appointed Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi di Sant'Agata met on Sunday with his German counterpart Guido Westerwelle to discuss recent developments in Arab states, particularly in Syria, where violent clashes between opposition supporters and government troops have continued since mid-March. "Both ministers expressed deep concern about escalating violence in Syria and denounced the ongoing repressions of the regime against the civilian population," the Italian foreign ministry said in a statement. "They reiterated their support for the Arab League initiative and called on the UN Security Council to make a relevant response to repressions in Syria," the statement reads. The two top diplomats also discussed the recent news from Libya, where a son of the deposed leader Muammar Gaddafi has been arrested, and called on a fair and just trial for him in accordance with all international standards. They also discussed the recent tensions in Egypt and Iran's controversial nuclear program.