This from Rueters News January 2, 2013:

An explosion on Sunday. December 30, at a building belonging to a Coptic church in western Libya killed two Egyptian men and wounded two others, a military spokesman said.

Attackers threw a homemade bomb at an administration building belonging to the Egyptian Coptic church in Dafniya, close to the western city of Misrata, said Ibrahim Rajab of Misrata military council.

The Egyptian consul in the city, Tareq Dahrouj, said he had visited the church and the building where the two church workers were killed early on Sunday.

"The explosion seems like it was very strong and I have started making my investigations with Misrata officials," he said.

Libya has small communities of Egyptians, Greeks and Italians who account for most of the Christian minority in the predominantly Islamic country.

Libya's new rulers have struggled to impose their authority on a myriad of armed groups, who helped oust dictator Muammar Gaddafi last year but have yet to lay down their arms. Sunday's attack was the first major assault on a Christian target since the revolution.

In Egypt, following the removal in 2011 of President Hosni Mubarak, Coptic Christians have become increasingly worried after an upsurge in attacks on churches, which they blame on hardline Islamists.

Repeated attacks on foreign diplomatic and aid centres in Libya's eastern city of Benghazi have made it very dangerous for non-locals to work and live there.

The worst attack on a foreign target was on Sept. 11, when the U.S. ambassador Christopher Stevens and three embassy staff were killed in an attack on the consulate in Benghazi.

(Reporting By Ali Shuaib; Writing By Hadeel Al-Shalchi; Editing by Rosalind Russell)

I am reminded of Larry Norman's 1970 song "Right Here In America.

Perhaps some of the lyrics are dated, but 'fact is, things have gotten much worse around the world and right here in America.

There are Christians in Russia, they meet underground,

In China they're killed when they're found.
And in Cuba the Christians live up in the hills
Because it's not safe in the towns.

And to think it might happen right here in America,
I know you think it's not true,
But it's happening to Christians right here in America,
Wait 'til it happens to you.

The Christians in Berkeley are passing out Bibles
And food to the hungry

They're hoping to help out the people this way.
But there are threats of the lives
Of their leaders and wives,
They're not welcome to stay.

And to think it might happen right here in America,
Maybe you think it's not true,
If you it's not happening to Christians right here in America,
Wait 'til it happens to you.

There's an underground church and it's following Jesus
And hoping to meet people's needs
But we don't have the time to build nice little churches,
Besides we don't need to -
We're holding our church in the streets.

And we are passing out leaflets and underground pamphlets

From Buffalo to Monterey
And we're talkin' 'bout Jesus and all of a sudden
We're arrested and taken away.

So I ask you, America, where do you stand?
Your people are starving, they're beaten and they're raped
And they're dying in jail cells, so what are your plans?
I'm not talking to congress or you politicians
Or Panthers or Muslims or Nixon or Birch,
I'm addressing this song to the church.

'Cause I've been in your churches and sat in your pews

And heard sermons on just how much money you'll need for the year.
And I've heard you make reference to Mexicans, Chinamen,
Niggers and Jews
And I gather you wish we would all disappear.

And you call yourselves Christians, when really you're not,
You're living your life as you please.
If you're really a Christina, then put down yourself
And follow wherever God leads.

I'm not talkin' religion, I'm talkin' 'bout Jesus,

Put all your plans on the shelf,
Let's stop marching for peace, and start marching for Jesus
And peace will take care of itself.

Well, I pray that we Christians will get off our sofas
And stand up for what we believe
The time is too short, and Christ is returning
We'd better get ready to leave.

We who are Christians should turn on the light,
So the truth will shine bright as the day
Jesus will come like a thief in the night,
And he'll steal all who love him away.

There are Christians in Russia, they meet underground,

In China they're killed when they're found.
And in Cuba the Christians live up in the hills
Because it's not safe in the towns.

And to think it might happen right here in America,
I see you shaking your heads and I hear you saying
It just can't be true.
But it's happened to me right here in America,
Wait 'til it happens to you