Greek Orthodox Patriarch Yazigi urges International community to release Maaloula's nuns

Patriarch of Antioch and All the East Youhanna X al-Yazigi slammed on Thursday the abduction of 12 nuns from the Syrian town of Maaloula.

He also urged the International community to deploy all possible efforts to release them.

Patriarch Yazigi's comments were made during a press conference in which he declared the postponement of his tour to Arab Gulf countries in order to visit Damascus to follow up on the kidnapping.

He also stressed that actions are needed to ensure the release the captives and not statements.

Patriach Yazigi urged the disputed parties in Syria to put an end for the bloodshed and replace it with peaceful dialogue.

On Wednesday, Pope Francis called for prayers for 12 Orthodox nuns reportedly taken by force from their convent in Syria's Maaloula by rebels.

Religious officials in the region have said the women were abducted, but a Syrian opposition activist said they were merely removed for their own safety.

The 12 nuns join two bishops and a priest who are already believed to be held by hard-line rebels, deepening concerns that extremists in the opposition's ranks are targeting Christians.

Syria's minorities, including Christians, have largely sided with President Bashar Assad's government or have tried to stay on the sidelines of the country's civil war, fearing for their fate if the rebels, increasingly dominated by Islamic extremists, come to power.