BRUSSELS — The European Union has agreed sanctions against Libyan strongman Moammar Gadhafi, including an arms embargo, asset freeze and visa ban.

Today’s decision was made by the EU ambassadors meeting to assess the rapidly deteriorating situation in the north African nation, said Hungarian Energy Minister Tamas Fellegi.

The EU “imposed an arms embargo on Libya and sanctions on those responsible for the violent crackdown on the civilian population,” Fellegi said. The asset freeze and visa ban was targeted against Gadhafi and some two dozen of his closest family and government associates.

The move came after days of increasing protest against the hundreds of deaths caused by Gadhafi military resistance against the popular uprising in his country.

The measures are aimed at reinforcing Saturday’s U.N. Security Council measures. The EU also includes measures to ban sale of any equipment that might be used for repression by Gadhafi.