Brussels: The European Union is preparing to impose an arms embargo and visa ban to punish Guinea`s military rulers for a massacre at a pro-democracy rally, an official said on Thursday, in the latest effort to step up international pressure on the junta.
The move comes days after West African leaders said they were placing an arms embargo on Guinea, where presidential guard troops opened fire on tens of thousands of demonstrators late last month. A Guinean human rights group says 157 people were killed, while the government said 57 died.
The EU is still drawing up a list of Guinean leaders to be included on the visa ban list, according to an official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the official decision still has to be taken. EU officials also are looking at whose assets should be frozen.
Once completed, a meeting of EU Foreign Ministers in Luxembourg starting on Monday will impose the sanctions, the official said.
In a draft conclusion for Monday`s Foreign Ministers meeting, the EU said the violent crackdown in Guinea “resulted in gross violations of human rights, including many deaths, injuries and rape.``
As a result, the draft conclusion said that the member states “have decided to adopt measures targeting the members of the (junta) and individuals associated with them, responsible for the violent crackdown.``
Bureau Report
