AMMAN/DAMASCUS/BEIRUT: At least 62 civilians were killed in demonstrations across Syria Friday, rights activists said, as the international community stepped up its response to a ruthless crackdown on protests. The European Union reached preliminary agreement to impose an arms embargo on Syria and consider other restrictive measures, diplomats said.
The United States, meanwhile, slapped sanctions on Syria’s intelligence agency and two relatives of President Bashar Assad.

The White House said the penalties affect Maher Assad, Assad’s brother and commander of the Syrian Army’s Fourth Armored Division, which is accused of carrying out the worst atrocities in the southern city of Daraa; Assad cousin Atif Najib, the former head of the Political Security Directorate in Daraa Province; and intelligence chief Ali Mamluk.
The bloodshed in Syria occurred as demonstrations again erupted across the country, defying heavy military deployments and mass arrest.
A witness in Daraa – the heart of the uprising – told Reuters Syrian forces fired live rounds at thousands of villagers who descended on the city.

Large demonstrations broke out in and around Damascus, as well as the central city of Homs, the coastal cities of Banias and Latakia, the northern cities of Raqqa and Hama, and the northeastern town of Qamishli.
In Damascus’ central Midan neighborhood, witnesses said about 2,000 people marched and chanted, “God, Syria and freedom only!” in a heavy rain, but security forces opened fire with bullets and tear gas, scattering them.
“Oh great Syrian army! Lift the blockade on Daraa!” protesters chanted in the Damascus suburb of Barzeh, according to video footage posted by activists on YouTube.
The government had warned against holding any demonstrations Friday and placed large banners around the capital that read: “We urge the brother citizens to avoid going out of your homes on Friday for your own safety.”
Syrian TV and SANA news agency said military and police forces came under attack by “armed terrorists” in Daraa and the central city of Homs, killing four soldiers and three police officers. Two soldiers were captured, the reports said.

Outside Homs, thousands chanted “We don’t love you!” and “Bye, bye Bashar! We will see you in The Hague!” as the sound of gunfire crackled in the distance.
A devastating picture was emerging of Daraa – which has been without electricity, water and telephones since Monday – as residents flee to neighboring countries.
“Nobody can move in [Daraa], they have snipers on the high roofs,” a resident told the Associated Press. “They are firing at everything.”
At the Jordanian side of the Syrian border, several Daraa residents who had just crossed over said there is blood on the streets of the city.

A witness in Latakia told AP that about 1,000 people turned out for an anti-government rally when plainclothes security agents with automatic rifles opened fire. He said he saw at least five people wounded.
The Muslim Brotherhood urged Syrians to demonstrate Friday against Assad in the first time the outlawed group has openly encouraged the protests in Syria. “You were born free, so don’t let a tyrant enslave you,” said the statement, issued by the Brotherhood’s exiled leadership.
EU ambassadors met in Brussels to discuss the arms embargo, which will have to be formalized in the coming days. They also asked EU experts to turn to page 10from page 1prepare plans for possible travel bans and asset freezes that could be imposed on the Syrian leadership.

The U.S. sanctions order signed by President Barack Obama includes asset freezes and bans on U.S. business dealings, building on U.S. measures against Syria in place since 2004.
Bashar Assad was not among those targeted under the sanctions, but could be named soon if violence by government forces against democracy protesters continues, a senior U.S. official said.
But another U.S. official said the White House is “not ready” to call on Assad to step down – as it has done with Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi – because Obama and his aides “do not want to get out in front of the Syrian people.”
In his executive order, Obama said the Syrian government had committed “human rights abuses, including those related to the repression of the people in Syria, manifested most recently by the use of violence and torture against, and arbitrary arrests and detentions of, peaceful protesters.”
The sanctions also targeted Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps - Quds Force, which is already under U.S. sanctions for supporting militant groups around the world. A source familiar with the new sanctions said the Quds Force is accused by the Obama administration of being the conduit for support Iran has provided to Syrian authorities in their crackdown on protesters.

The top United Nations human rights body condemned Syria Friday for using deadly force against peaceful protesters and launched an investigation into killings and other alleged crimes.
The 47-member forum, which held an emergency session at U.S. request, endorsed a U.S.-sponsored resolution by 26 votes to 9 with 7 abstentions.

Five delegations – including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar and Bahrain – were absent for the vote, which came after heated debate and behind-the-scenes negotiations that led to some watering down of the text.
China, Russia and Pakistan voted against the resolution, denouncing meddling in Syria’s internal affairs and accusing the council of double standards. – Agencies