Syria could face tough sanctions if it blocks political process - U.S. diplomat

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The United States will pursue "a strategy of isolation," including sanctions, with its allies if President Bashar al-Assad holds up a political process aimed at ending Syria's seven-year war, a top U.S. diplomat for Syria told Reuters on Friday.

Jim Jeffrey, the U.S. special representative for Syria, said Washington would work with countries in Europe, Asia and the Middle East to impose tough international sanctions if Assad's government failed to cooperate on rewriting the Syrian constitution as a prelude to elections.