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The two bishops who were kidnapped in Syria last month are in good health, a representative of the largest Syrian opposition group said, adding that they have received a lot of contradictory information on the identity of the kidnappers.

"The only reliable information for us is that two or three days ago, a doctor visited the two bishops and they are in good health," said Abdul Ahad Steipho, member of the main opposition's National Coalition and its committee established to follow up on the kidnappings.

Steipho noted that the committee’s attempts to enter into telephone contact with them have so far been unsuccessful and information about the identity of the kidnappers has been highly contradictory. When asked about various possible versions, he replied: "These kidnappings are sometimes carried out by criminal gangs, other times by Bashar al-Assad’s regime and sometimes by the Free Syrian Army that uses kidnappings as a way to exchange prisoners."

"The two bishops are well known in Syria for their humanitarian work, and their defence of peaceful coexistence among religious groups in Syrian society. Their kidnapping sends a signal to Christians in Syria and the region," commented Steipho, adding that for these reasons the opposition wanted to ensure that they would be released.

The two bishops, Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Aleppo Metropolitan Petros (Boulos Yaziji) and Syriac Orthodox Metropolitan of Aleppo Johanna Ibrahim were kidnapped in late April in Kafr Dael, near Aleppo (in northern Syria). No organisation has claimed responsibility for their kidnapping so far, but sources close to the Greek Orthodox Church and the Syrian authorities have claimed that the kidnappers were Chechen jihadists.

Christians constitute around 5% of the Syrian population and are especially vulnerable because of the anarchy that has engulfed the country since March 2011.