Syria's Assad says new U.S. sanctions are part of drive to "choke" Syrians
AMMAN, Aug 12 (Reuters) - Syrian President Bashar al Assad said on Wednesday that sweeping new U.S. sanctions amounted to a new stage of economic warfare against his government and were part of Washington's long- standing efforts to "choke" Syrians' living standards.
In a statement, Assad also blamed the sanctions, known as the Caesar Act, for a fall in the local currency to new record lows, with panic buying of dollars by Syrians worried about their economic situation. (Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi Editing by Gareth Jones)
