The European Union is moving to impose additional sanctions on Syria for the government's violent crackdown on dissent.

The French Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that diplomats are considering measures targeting companies that are linked to the repression of civilians in Syria.

The new penalties could come on the heels of an EU oil embargo against Damascus that took effect Saturday.

Meanwhile, activists say Syrian forces opened fire on civilians in the central Homs region on Tuesday. The French news agency reported at least two people were killed.

The unrest unfolded a day before the Arab League's top diplomat visits Damascus. Nabil Elaraby has said that he will use Wednesday's trip to express Arab concerns about the deadly violence that has rocked Syria. He also said he would listen to the opinions of Syrian leaders.

In late August, Syrian authorities rejected an Arab League statement calling for an end to the bloodshed.

On Monday, the International Committee of the Red Cross said Syria had given it access to a detention facility in the country for the first time since opposition activists launched a pro-democracy uprising in March.

ICRC chief Jakob Kellenberger said the government allowed a Red Cross delegation traveling with him to visit the Damascus central prison.

The state-run SANA news agency said Tuesday that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad used the meeting to stress the importance of getting direct information about events in his country, in the wake of what the news service called massive media distortions.