DHAKA: The Syrian government has told the family of UK doctor Abbas Khan it can send a team to Damascus to investigate his death.

Syrian authorities have said their post-mortem examination showed he killed himself while in detention, reports the BBC.

But his family has said this is not credible as he was due to be released.

Khan, an orthopaedic surgeon from south London who entered Syria to help civilians, was arrested 13 months ago.

Syrian authorities told the BBC that Khan’s family can arrange an independent post-mortem examination.

The government also said it would share the findings of its own post-mortem examination with the family.

A member of Khan’s family is expected to go to Damascus to collect Khan’s body when visa formalities are completed, the government said.

Kahn’s brother Shahnawaz Khan said that the family just wanted his body to be released.

‘We do not want any more investigations we want his body to be released and brought home,’ he said.

‘The authorities allowing an investigation is... frankly insulting.’

He said the Syrian authorities had not spoken with the family directly about when they would release Khan’s body.

BDST: 1936 HRS, DEC 18, 2013
Edited by Robab Rosan, Current Affairs Editor