US President Barack Obama has signed an order imposing sanctions on three top Syrian officials, Syria's intelligence agency and Iran's Revolutionary Guard.

In Deraa, dozens of people are reported to have been shot dead in recent days.

US officials said the sanctions were intended to send a message to the Syrian people that those responsible for the abuses must face consequences for their actions.

The officials added that the Commerce Department would also be taking steps against the Syrian government.

"I have determined that the government of Syria's human rights abuses… constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy and economy of the United States, and warrant the imposition of additional sanctions," Mr Obama said in the order.

"We have all grown increasingly alarmed by the violence unleashed against the Syrian people. The world should condemn these actions in the strongest terms possible," said Senator John Kerry, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations committee.

He added: "Syrians are every bit as deserving of human rights and dignity as the Libyans, Tunisians, and Egyptians and the government should have met their protests with responsiveness not repression."

Meanwhile, thousands of protesters took to the streets of the Syrian capital Damascus and around the country on Friday, in protest against the regime of President Assad.

More than 40 people were killed in anti-government demonstrations across Syria on Friday, reports have said.

Witnesses said troops opened fire on demonstrators in the city of Deraa, where the unrest began in mid-March, reportedly killing 15 people.

Originally Published On: www.bbc.co.uk – Original Article Here