The Council of the European Union banned imports of crude oil from Syria, strengthening existing sanctions against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad for its repression of protesters in the country. "In view of the gravity of the situation in Syria, the Council today further tightened the EU's sanctions against that country and imposed a ban on the import of Syrian oil to the EU," the EU said. "The prohibition concerns purchase, import, and transport of oil and other petroleum products from Syria," it said, adding, "No financial or insurance services may be provided for such transactions." The ban was issued following a statement by Catherine Ashton, EU ...