EU sanctions senior Syrian intelligence official

The European Union imposed on Friday sanctions on a senior Syrian military intelligence official, adding him to list of more than 200 sanctioned names, Palestinian newspaper Al-Quds reported.

The official EU newspaper said that the Colonel Mohamed Mahla, who has been occupying a senior position in the military intelligence since April, “is responsible for rein in and violence against civilian in Damascus and Damascus countryside.”

According to the newspaper, the sanctions took place on Friday.

The Syrian civil conflict, stated in 2011, has so far resulted in the death of more than 220,000 people, according to UN estimates.

The EU imposed in 2011 sanctions on more than 200 pro-Assad officials and around 70 organisations. The sanctions started as a protest against government crackdown on opposition.

The sanction includes restrictions on the exportation of equipment could be used in crackdown on the opposition, as well as they include ban on exportation of Syrian oil.