WASHINGTON (BNO NEWS) -- The United States on Friday imposed new sanctions against members of the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad responsible for the violent crackdown on protesters, the White House said in a statement.

"The United States condemns the use of violence against peacefully demonstrating citizens in Syria, and calls on the Syrian government to respect human rights and to forge a credible path to a future of greater freedom, democracy, opportunity, and justice," President Barack Obama said in a letter to the speaker of the house of representatives.

"As we have communicated to the Syrian government directly, the United States will consider changes in the policies and actions of the Government of Syria in determining whether to continue or terminate this national emergency in the future."

According to the White House, the sanctions specifically target Mahir al-Asad, the brother of President al-Asad and brigade commander in the Syrian Army's 4th Armored Division, who has played a leading role in Dar'a, where protesters have been killed by Syrian security forces. They also target the president's cousin Atif Najib, who was the head of the Political Security Directorate for Dar'a province when protesters were killed.

The director of Syria's General Intelligence Directorate and the intelligence service itself were also affected. The sanctions also named the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Qods Force for providing support to the Syrian government.

The national emergency declaration was extended for another year and bans US citizens from engaging in business with them.

The White House also welcomed the decision today by the UN Human Rights Council to investigate the reported violations of international law after hundreds of people have been killed during weeks of unrest.

"We strongly support the resolution passed today in Geneva, including the mandate for an urgent mission by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to investigate all alleged violations of international human rights law, with the goal of ensuring full accountability for the perpetrators of the violence," the White House said.

In a resolution approved by 26 of the 47 Member States, the Council requested Navy Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, to dispatch a mission to Syria to investigate the alleged violations. Nine Member States voted against the resolution, seven abstained and four were absent.

The Geneva-based panel also called for the restoration of access to the Internet and other communication networks, the lifting of media censorship and to allow foreign journalists into the country.

Furthermore, Syrian authorities were urged to immediately free all political prisoners and people arbitrarily detained, during and before the anti-government demonstrations, and put an end to intimidation, persecution and arbitrary arrests.

Kyung-wha Kang, the UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, said that over 450 people have reportedly been killed and three times that number injured due to the widespread use of live fire ammunition against protesters.

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