UN: Deaths In Syria 'Much More' Than 4,000

Syria is now in a state of civil war with a death toll "much more" than 4,000, according to the UN.

Navi Pillay, the body's high commissioner for human rights, said increasing numbers of defecting soldiers were taking up arms against the government of President Bashar al Assad.

She reiterated her claim that Syrian forces were committing "crimes against humanity".

Her assessment came as the EU - already imposing tough sanctions on Iran in a challenge over nuclear activities - agreed to broaden its economic sanctions against the Syrian regime.

New measures will target the oil and financial sectors and an additional 12 people and 11 "entities" have been added to the blacklist.

Syria's state oil company, the General Petroleum Corporation, is among those expected to be targeted.

Diplomats said the move could also halt the Syrian operations of major foreign oil companies including Royal Dutch Shell and French owned Total. British-owned companies with oil interests in Syria will also be affected.

The EU has moved to widen the scope of its economic sanctions several times in recent months in response to the regime's continuing military crackdown against anti-government protesters.

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Oil exports account for a large portion of the Syrian government's revenues.

Turkey has also announced a raft of punitive measures, including travel bans on senior Syrian officials and an embargo on financial relations with Syrian banks.

Syria's neighbour, once an ally of Mr Assad, has become one of his leading critics.

Ankara's foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Mr Assad's government had "come to the end of the road."

Turkey's decision follows the imposition of unprecedented sanctions by the Arab League.

The EU also announced an intention to continue to push for action at the UN Security Council.

Russia and China, which both have significant interests in Syria's oil sector, last month blocked attempts to pass a resolution condemning the Assad regime.