This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-25420945

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
UK doctor's death in Syria 'in effect murder', says minister Abbas Khan: Doctor's death in Syria 'in effect murder'
(35 minutes later)
British doctor Abbas Khan has "in effect" been murdered by the Syrian authorities just days before his expected release from jail, Foreign Office Minister Hugh Robertson said. British doctor Abbas Khan has been "in effect murdered" by the Syrian authorities just days before his expected release from jail, Foreign Office Minister Hugh Robertson said.
He said the death of the 32-year-old orthopaedic surgeon from London, was "at best extremely suspicious". He said the death of the 32-year-old orthopaedic surgeon from south London was "at best extremely suspicious".
Dr Khan was arrested last year when he arrived in Aleppo to help civilians. Dr Khan was arrested last year in Aleppo where he was helping civilians.
Syria's Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad said Dr Khan committed suicide using his pyjamas to hang himself.Syria's Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad said Dr Khan committed suicide using his pyjamas to hang himself.
'No excuse''No excuse'
Dr Khan's family had been told he would be released on Friday following an order from the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. He said the results of an autopsy proved this. He also said that Dr Khan's body will be released to his family.
His brother, Afroze Khan, said on Monday when his mother went to see her son in Damascus she was told he was dead. Dr Khan's relatives had been told he would be freed on Friday following an order from the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Mr Robertson said the government was seeking "urgent clarification" about what happened to Dr Khan, originally from Streatham, south London. Dr Khan's brother, Afroze Khan, said when his mother went to see her son in Damascus on Monday, she was told he was dead.
The family has said it is "absurd" to think he would commit suicide with his release imminent.
Mr Robertson said the government was seeking "urgent clarification" about what had happened to Dr Khan, originally from Streatham.
He said "We can't at the moment be absolutely certain about the circumstances in which Dr Khan met his death, but what is clear is that he went to Syria on a humanitarian mission, was imprisoned by the Syrian authorities and met his death while he was in prison in circumstances that are at best extremely suspicious.He said "We can't at the moment be absolutely certain about the circumstances in which Dr Khan met his death, but what is clear is that he went to Syria on a humanitarian mission, was imprisoned by the Syrian authorities and met his death while he was in prison in circumstances that are at best extremely suspicious.
"There is no excuse whatsoever for the treatment that he has suffered by the Syrian authorities who have in effect murdered a British national who was in their country to help people who were injured during their civil war.""There is no excuse whatsoever for the treatment that he has suffered by the Syrian authorities who have in effect murdered a British national who was in their country to help people who were injured during their civil war."
The Respect MP George Galloway, who has liaised with the Syrian authorities and was due to collect Dr Khan on Friday, said the death was "murder most foul" and it was "inconceivable that he committed suicide". Respect MP George Galloway, who has liaised with the Syrian authorities and was due to collect Dr Khan on Friday, said the death was "murder most foul" and it was "inconceivable that he committed suicide".
'Proud of brother'
The MP for Bradford West said he believed somebody within the regime killed Dr Khan to defy President Assad's decision to release him.The MP for Bradford West said he believed somebody within the regime killed Dr Khan to defy President Assad's decision to release him.
BBC correspondent Paul Wood, reporting from Beirut, said Dr Abbas could have been a casualty of a power struggle between the Syrian president and his own security services. BBC correspondent Paul Wood, reporting from Beirut, said Dr Khan could have been a casualty of a power struggle between the Syrian president and his own security services.
He said: "Only President Assad could have ordered the doctor's release - if he did so it may well have been a goodwill gesture in the run up to peace talks that Britain is helping to organise.He said: "Only President Assad could have ordered the doctor's release - if he did so it may well have been a goodwill gesture in the run up to peace talks that Britain is helping to organise.
"Some in the regime perhaps do not want those talks to succeed.""Some in the regime perhaps do not want those talks to succeed."
Afroze Khan said: "Life's been turned upside down. We are a very close knit family. We have been through this ordeal for 13 months now and are in utter despair really. Dr Khan's brother Shahnawaz Khan said: "Life's been turned upside down. We are a very close knit family. We have been through this ordeal for 13 months now and are in utter despair really.
"But we are also proud that he died doing something that he believed in - helping people who were in desperate need.""But we are also proud that he died doing something that he believed in - helping people who were in desperate need."
Dr Khan, who had two young children and worked at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore, north-west London, was detained 48 hours after entering Syria last November.
He had been moved by the plight of refugees and worked in refugee camps in Turkey. He had not planned to go to Syria but some people were too badly injured to travel.
Earlier this year, his mother - who has spent the last four months in Damascus - found him in a prison in the city weighing just five stone (32kg) and barely able to walk.
He claimed he had been tortured while being detained without charge, and had been held for much of the time on his own.