00:00The UK government has said it is lifting sanctions against a dozen Syrian entities, including
00:09government departments and media outlets.
00:14The Syrian people deserve the opportunity to rebuild their country and economy, and
00:19a stable Syria is in the UK's national interest, the UK's Minister for the Middle East said
00:24in a statement on Thursday.
00:28The move comes after former President Bashar al-Assad was toppled in a lightning rebel offensive
00:33in December.
00:36In March, the UK already dropped sanctions against dozens of Syrian businesses, mostly banks
00:42and oil companies.
00:46The European Union, meanwhile, has begun to ease some energy, transport and banking restrictions
00:51against the country's new government.
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