Syrian Assets Frozen by Switzerland Reach $51 Million

The amount of Syrian assets frozen by Switzerland has now reached 45 million francs (37.3 million euros, $51 million), Bern said Monday.

"This is a total for all sanctions against Syria, whether they be individuals or companies" and is up from 27 million francs in mid-August, a spokeswoman for the economy ministry told Agence France Presse.

"The number could get higher if the sanctions are widened to include more people, companies or groups," she said.

Switzerland in August widened sanctions against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime, adding 12 individuals to a list of key players under financial embargo and travel restriction.

Assad and other members of his regime were already placed under sanctions in May, for their "involvement in the repression against demonstrators."

Earlier Monday, the United Nations human rights chief said that at least 2,600 people have been killed in the unrest in Syria since popular protests first broke out in mid-March.