The US government imposed "sweeping sanctions" on Syrian government officials in response to the suspected sarin attack on civilians earlier this month. The Treasury Department announced this in Washington today.<br/>'<br/>The Treasury ordered a freeze on all assets in the United States belonging to 271 employees of the Syrian Scientific Studies and Research Center (SSRC), and blocked any American person or business from dealing with them.<br/>'<br/>The SSRC was responsible for producing the chemical weapons Washington believes were used in the attack and the means to deliver them, the statement said.<br/>''''''