EU renews asset freeze on 19 Egyptian former officials

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry announced Friday that the European Union decided to renew the freeze on the assets of deposed president Hosni Mubark, his two sons, and several icons of his regime.The decision, made yesterday, is the fruit of the diplomatic efforts of Egypt Embassy in Brussels, Spokesman of the Ministry Bader Abdul-Ati told reporters here.On March 21, 2011, the EU Council slapped a freeze on all funds and economic resources owned or controlled by persons identified as responsible for the misappropriation of Egyptian state funds, and natural or legal persons associated with them.The freeze, targeting a list of 19 persons, is renewed annually.