Armed groups have kidnapped two bishops in the countryside of Syria's northern city of Aleppo, state-run SANA news agency reported Monday.

Bishops John Abraham and Paul Yazigi were snatched in Kafr Dael near Aleppo while doing humanitarian work, the report said, adding that gunmen cut off the bishops' car and drove off to unknown destination.

The state media spelled no further details but other media reports said the kidnappers were radical Chechens affiliated with al-Qaida-minded groups.

The Syrian government has accused armed rebels affiliated with al-Qaida of being behind the civil conflict that has engulfed Syrian since two years and a half ago.