  Switzerland freezes Syrian president’s assets December 23, 2011 - 20:56 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Switzerland has frozen 50 million Swiss francs ($53 million) of funds belonging to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and other top officials, a government spokeswoman said on Friday, December 23. Money belonging to 12 companies and 54 individuals had been targeted. In addition to the Syrian president, top military commander Mahir Assad and Interior Minister Mohammed Ibrahim al-Sha'ar were also on the list, the spokeswoman of the Swiss State Secretariat for Economics said. Switzerland in May expanded its sanctions against Syria to include Assad and other senior officials, raising pressure on his government to end a crackdown on protesters. Switzerland has worked hard in recent years to improve its image as a haven for ill-gotten gains, seizing the assets of numerous deposed dictators and agreeing in 2009 to soften strict bank secrecy to help other countries catch tax cheats. It has blocked assets of the former Tunisian and Egyptian leaders and their entourages as well as those of late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and his family, Reuters reported. Partner news  Top stories Amy Elliott, chief administrative officer of the Oklahoma medical examiner's office, said 51 were confirmed dead. An Islamist insurgency, once confined largely to the republic of Chechnya, has spread across the North Caucasus in recent years. Earlier, at least five Azerbaijan soldiers were killed and six seriously injured when their vehicle rammed into a tree and overturned. Among its provisions are bans on child marriage and the traditional practice of selling and buying women to settle disputes.   Partner news |  Latest news U.S. report says religious freedom still restricted in Turkey  Despite these provisions, the report noted, the government provides favorable and prejudicial treatment to Sunni Islamic groups.European Commission urges EU-wide exchange of income data “I want to see this principle of automatic exchange become the standard at international level as well,” Barroso said.Cooperation between Armenian, Artsakh police discussed President of the Artsakh Republic Bako Sahakyan met Tuesday, May 21, with Armenian Police chief Vladimir Gasparyan.Expert says Erdoğan’s visit to U.S. unsuccessful Large-scale hostilities are reported in Syria these days, with success on the side of government forces, Sargis Grigoryan said. |
