Damascus has released the body of a British doctor who died in Syrian custody and his remains are now being transported to Lebanon.

Syrian government officials handed over the body of 32-year-old Abbas Khan to the Red Cross on Friday.

Khan was seized by government troops in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo in November 2012. He appeared to be on the verge of being released when his death was announced earlier last week. Syrian authorities say he committed suicide but UK Foreign Office minister Hugh Robertson said was effectively murdered by the Syrian government.