Obama Freezes Syrian President’s Assets

WASHINGTON (CN) - President Obama has frozen all assets under U.S. jurisdiction belonging to President Bashar Al-Assad of Syria in response to the increasing violence his government has used to repress pro-democracy demonstrations across the country.

Obama's order extends to six other senior members of Al-Assad's government, including the vice president, prime minister, minister of the interior, minister of defense, the head of military intelligence and the director of the political security directorate.

Under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the U.S. president is authorized to freeze the assets and block the transfer of property to foreign nationals and governments if the president determines it is in the national interest to do so.

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