Syrian Bishops Kidnapped by Rebels

Had warned of religious intolerance

Two well-known bishops in Syria who had issued repeated warnings to church and political officials about the nation's religious intolerance were kidnapped Monday by armed rebel fighters in Aleppo.

Their driver was killed, the Vatican Press Office reported on Tuesday.

Reuters reported that the Syriac Orthodox and Greek Orthodox Archbishops of Aleppo, Yohanna Ibrahim and Paul Yazigi, were captured by a group of terrorists as they were "carrying out humanitarian work," Syria's news agancy said.

The pair was kidnapped while en route to Aleppo from Bab al Wawa crossing with Turkey, which is held and controlled by rebel forces, Reuters said.