A parish priest and around 20 Christians have been kidnapped from a Syrian village near the border with Turkey, Catholic news agency Fides reported today, quoting Bishop Georges Abou Khazen, the Apostolic Vicar of Aleppo.

"Unfortunately I have to confirm news of the kidnapping of Father Hanna Jallouf..., the Syrian priest in the village of Knayeh, who was taken with around 20 Christians," Fides quoted him as saying.

He said the kidnapping took place in the night between Sunday and Monday.

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