OTTAWA: Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird announced Wednesday new sanctions against four banks, three oil companies and 22 people linked with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime.
"We want to make sure we are doing everything we can to isolate this reprehensible regime," Baird said in a statement.

"Assad and those supporting him must get the message that peace-loving nations of the world are working together to end the regime's oppressive rule," he added.

The sanctions target the Industrial Bank, Popular Credit Bank, Saving Bank and Agricultural Cooperative Bank, as well as Deir ez-Zor Petroleum Company, Ebla Petroleum Company and Dijla Petroleum Company.

Canada has already banned imports from Syria as well as new investment in the country, and imposed an assets freeze prohibiting economic dealings with individuals and entities associated with the Assad regime.

This new round of sanctions is the fifth unveiled by Ottawa since May in response to a violent crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators, and brings the total targeted to 108 individuals and 38 entities.
The United Nations says more than 5,400 people have been killed in the Syrian government crackdown.