EU to tighten financial, oil sanctions on Syria: diplomat

BRUSSELS: The European Union will tighten sanctions against Syria's oil and financial sectors this week to punish the regime over its crackdown on protesters, a European diplomat said Monday.

The sanctions, to be adopted by foreign ministers on Thursday, include a ban on exports of gas and oil industry equipment to Syria and measures to block other sources of financing for the regime, the diplomat said on condition of anonymity.