The fighting came as President Barack Obama's administration pressed the U.S. Congress for its authorization of a military strike against the Assad regime, while the president arrived at a G-20 summit in Russia expected to be overshadowed by Syria.

The fighting in Maaloula, a scenic village of about 3,300 perched high in the mountains, began early Wednesday when militants from Jabhat al-Nusra stormed in after a suicide bomber struck an army checkpoint guarding the entrance.

He said, 'Fortunately we were closed today (Wednesday), fearing such an attack, so none of our staff were injured. Similar incidents are taking place across the nation and to date 15 churches and 3 Christian schools have been attacked and some set on fire.'

Pope Tawadros was not the only religious leader who demanded change in Egypt, but his church is bearing the brunt. The Copts are increasingly fearful of meeting to worship: one of their number was recently kidnapped and beheaded in the Sinai.

The standard replies to views as one-sided as these are familiar. I took a different line, reminding my driver that overall, Christians - starting with more than a million church members butchered by government forces in Sudan - have endured far worse treatment from Muslims than vice versa in recent decades but have largely keep quiet about it.