US imposes sanctions on businessman close to Assad

The United States on Thursday stepped up the pressure on Syria over its crackdown on pro-democracy protesters, imposing sanctions on a businessman close to President Bashar al-Assad and his family. The move freezes the US assets of Muhammad Hamsho and his company, Hamsho International Group, and prohibits US entities from engaging in any business dealings with them, the Treasury Department said in a statement.
The government said Hamsho was "one of Syria's top businessmen" with interests in multiple sectors and a "close business associate" of Assad's brother Mahir, serving as a "frontman" for him and a number of his businesses.