The European Union on Monday, May 9, imposed an arms embargo on Syria, where clashes between demonstrators and government troops have been ongoing for several months. agency reports this The Associated Press .

In addition, the EU has banned entry into its territory of 13 members of the Syrian government responsible for the use of force against civilians. Their European assets are frozen.

Unrest in Syria began in mid-March in the city of Daraa, located on the border with Jordan. The impetus for them was the arrest of a group of schoolchildren who wrote anti-government slogans on the walls, recalls RIA Novosti .

People took to the streets demanding the release of teenagers. Later, protests spread to a number of other regions of the country, in particular to the cities of Latakia, Baniyas, Homs, Hama and some suburbs of Damascus.

During clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement officers in Syria, according to the opposition, more than 500 people were killed. In turn, according to official data, since the beginning of the “violence unleashed by mercenaries against the security of citizens and the homeland,” 70 civilians and more than 90 soldiers and police have been killed.

Opposition protests in Syria continue despite a large-scale reform program announced by the government. In particular, the state of emergency that had been in force since 1963 was abolished in the country, which was one of the main demands of the opposition.

EU imposes sanctions against Syria