Egyptian Christians kidnapped in Libya

Islamist militants have abducted 20 Egyptian Christians in Libya in recent days, a source close to the government said Saturday. The Ansar al-Sharia militia had kidnapped 13 of them Saturday in the coastal city of Sirte and the rest of them there over the past few days, the source said. Their identity was not immediately clear, except that they were said to be Coptic Christians. Thousands of Egyptians work in Libya, mainly in the construction and craft sectors, and several have been killed in recent years. In February, the bodies of seven Egyptian Christians who had been shot were found near the second city of Benghazi. And just last week, an Egyptian Coptic couple were found dead in their home in Sirte, hometown of longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi, who was overthrown and killed in a popular uprising three years ago.

Middle East Libya christians