Syria: EU eases sanctions

The EU has suspended a number of sanctions against Syria . The areas affected are energy, banking, transport and reconstruction, the EU foreign ministers announced on Monday. The union also released the frozen assets of five banks, relaxed restrictions on the central bank and extended an exemption to facilitate humanitarian aid. The EU had imposed a number of sanctions on individuals and sectors of the economy, including a ban on oil exports and restrictions on access to financial channels. The sanctions were aimed at the government of President Bashar al-Assad, who was overthrown in December. The new government and representatives of Germany and the EU held initial talks on easing restrictions in January.