The United States has imposed sanctions on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for human rights abuses.
It represents the first time Assad has been targeted specifically by the international community for his government’s crackdown on protesters.
President Barack Obama last month imposed sanctions on his brother Maher, his cousin and an intelligence chief.
A US state department official said it was time for Mr Assad “to lead a political transition or to leave”.
Meanwhile, Assad has said his security services made some mistakes in their handling of demonstrations, the al-Watan newspaper reported.
He attributed the shortcomings to a lack of experience with such situations, which he said would normally be the police’s responsibility.
Assad also “gave assurances that Syria had overcome the crisis” and that “events were coming to an end”, the newspaper added.
The admission came as the BBC received new reports of attacks on civilians in Tal Kalakh, near the border with Lebanon, which has been besieged for several days. Activists say at least 27 people have died. (BBC)
