The United States has imposed new sanctions on three top Syrian officials after security forces killed more than 60 people across Syria during demonstrations demanding the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad.
The Syrian human rights group Sawasiah said it had the names of a total of 62 people killed during protests in Deraa, Rustun, Latakia, Homs and the town of Qadam, near Damascus.
The latest bloodshed came after demonstrators again defied heavy military deployments and mass arrests.
Two relatives of President Bashar al-Assad were targeted by the sanctions.
The BBC reports the sanctions name Syrian intelligence chief Ali Mamluk; Mr Assad's cousin Atif Najib, the former leader of the Political Security Directorate in Deraa Province; and Maher Assad, Mr 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 Deraa.
It is the first reprisal for Syria's violent crackdown.
Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard was also targeted in the sanctions.
And European Union diplomats say they have reached preliminary agreement to impose an arms embargo on Syria.
Dozens killed in demonstrations
At least 62 civilians have been killed in the latest pro-democracy demonstrations in Syria, Syrian human rights groups say.
A six-week uprising against President Bashar al-Assad flared again as demonstrations erupted on Friday in several cities in defiance of a military crackdown and mass arrests.
The human rights group Sawasiah said it had the names of a total of 62 people killed during protests, in Deraa, Rustun, Latakia, Homs and the town of Qadam, near Damascus. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights gave a similar death toll.
Security forces swamped the streets of the capital Damascus and tear gas was reportedly fired as prayers ended, the BBC says.
A resident of Rustun told Reuters that military security, secret police and gunmen loyal to President Assad attacked a large crowd of demonstrators in the town.
Medical sources said 15 people were killed in clashes near the city of Deraa.
Protests shook a number of other cities including Banias on the Mediterranean coast and Qamishli in eastern Syria.
