The European Union imposed sanctions on Syria's main mobile phone operator Syriatel, the country's largest private company Cham Holding and several construction and investment firms, the EU's Official Journal showed on Saturday.

Europeans are banned from doing business with the six companies, which also include a television station, Addounia TV, and three firms linked to the Syrian military.

The ministers of justice and information were also added to a list of Syrians affected by an EU travel ban and asset freeze.-Reuters