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EU Calls on Syria's Assad to Quit, Mulls Broad Energy Sanctions
(Wall Street Journal) Laurence Norman - The European Union for the first time called Thursday on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to leave power as EU leaders also threatened "strong" new sanctions, which could include an embargo on imports of Syrian crude oil and a ban on refined product sales to the country. The bulk of Syria's oil exports go to the EU. The EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Catherine Ashton, said in a statement: "The EU notes the complete loss of Bashar al-Assad's legitimacy in the eyes of the Syrian people and the necessity for him to step aside." A separate statement from French President Nicolas Sarkozy, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and UK Prime Minister David Cameron said they are "actively supporting further strong EU sanctions against the regime of President Assad."