The AFP reports:

European Union foreign ministers plan to adopt fresh sanctions against President Bashar al-Assad's regime at talks next week, EU diplomats told AFP on Monday.

Several sources said on condition of anonymity that the EU's 27 foreign ministers would add to an existing EU blacklist of 129 people and 49 entities, or firms, when they meet in Brussels on Monday.

Talks were continuing this week to discuss names as well as decide on possible economic sanctions, sources said.

"We are working on a new package of sanctions but it is not clear what will be included," said one source.

The sanctions would be the EU's 17th round of targeted measures against the Assad regime since it began repressing protests in March 2011.