U.S. warns Syria to halt violence against protesters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States and its international partners will take "additional steps" against the Syrian government unless it stops killing and harassing its people, the White House said on Friday.

"The United States believes that Syria's deplorable actions toward its people warrant a strong international response," White House press secretary Jay Carney said in a statement.

"Absent significant change in the Syrian government's current approach, including an end to the government's killing of protesters ... the United States and its international partners will take additional steps to make clear our strong opposition to the Syrian government's treatment of its people," he said.

Syrian security forces killed 27 protesters on Friday who were demanding an end to President Bashar al-Assad's rule, rights campaigners said, and the European Union agreed to impose sanctions in response to his crackdown.

"In this context, the United States welcomes today's decision by the European Union to impose sanctions on Syrian regime officials responsible for human rights abuses in Syria," Carney said. The United States last week imposed sanctions of its own against some figures in the Syrian government.

(Reporting by Alister Bull; Editing by Vicki Allen)