The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) returned on Saturday the body of a British doctor to the British Embassy in Lebanon's Beirut, who had been detained in Syria.

Dr. Abbas Khan died recently while in detention, the ICRC said, adding that Khan's family as well as Syrian and British authorities requested the ICRC to assist with the transportation of the body to ensure its rapid return to the United Kingdom.

Two days before the repatriation, Syrian authorities had asked the ICRC to be present during a medical examination of Khan's body.

Last year, Abbas Khan left his hometown in London on a two-week mission to treat Syrian refugees. However, the man was detained by the Syrian authorities and died after 13 months of detention.

The 32-year-old infiltrated illegally into Syria's Aleppo province through Turkey and was detained on a checkpoint on November. 22, 2012.

The Syrian government said that Khan committed suicide, a couple of days ahead of his expected release.