This article is from the source 'guardian' 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 https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2020/jan/11/iran-plane-crach-tehran-admits-firing-missile-ukrainian-airliner-disastrous-mistake-live-news

The article has changed 18 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 10 Version 11
Iran's admission it shot down airliner is 'important first step', says Boris Johnson – live news Iran's admission it shot down airliner is 'important first step', says Boris Johnson – live news
(32 minutes later)
Tehran says its military unintentionally shot down Ukraine International Airlines flight 752, killing all 176 people onboardTehran says its military unintentionally shot down Ukraine International Airlines flight 752, killing all 176 people onboard
As Iranians protest over their government’s mishandling of the downing of the Ukrainian International Airlines flight 752, in London Jeremy Corbyn has addressed hundreds marching against the prospect of war with Iran.
The CND, which co-organised the demonstration with the Stop the War Coalition, is carrying photos of the protest on its Twitter feed.
Following on from the previous report about domestic reaction to the Iranian mea culpa, reports are emerging on Twitter of protests in the street in Tehran over the government’s handling of the fiasco.Following on from the previous report about domestic reaction to the Iranian mea culpa, reports are emerging on Twitter of protests in the street in Tehran over the government’s handling of the fiasco.
Reuters has some domestic Iranian reaction to Iranian government’s admitting its forces shot down the Ukrainian airliner just outside of Tehran, with many in the country angry at what appears to be incompetence and dishonesty by their leaders.Reuters has some domestic Iranian reaction to Iranian government’s admitting its forces shot down the Ukrainian airliner just outside of Tehran, with many in the country angry at what appears to be incompetence and dishonesty by their leaders.
Boris Johnson has called Iran’s admission it shot down a passenger plane by mistake an “important first step” and said it “reinforces the importance of de-escalating tensions in the region”.Boris Johnson has called Iran’s admission it shot down a passenger plane by mistake an “important first step” and said it “reinforces the importance of de-escalating tensions in the region”.
In a statement, the prime minister said:In a statement, the prime minister said:
A video is circulating on Twitter that purports to show the moment that the surface to air missile that downed UIA flight 752 was launched by Iranian Revolutionary Guards.A video is circulating on Twitter that purports to show the moment that the surface to air missile that downed UIA flight 752 was launched by Iranian Revolutionary Guards.
Reuters is now running more detail on the comments by Ukraine International Airlines’ president and vice-president at the press conference they took earlier this afternoon, where they denied suggestions that their crew were in some way responsible for the tragic downing of their jet.Reuters is now running more detail on the comments by Ukraine International Airlines’ president and vice-president at the press conference they took earlier this afternoon, where they denied suggestions that their crew were in some way responsible for the tragic downing of their jet.
The French president, Emmanuel Macron, has spoken to Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, about the investigation into the downing of the aircraft, a statement from the Ukrainian president’s office said.The French president, Emmanuel Macron, has spoken to Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, about the investigation into the downing of the aircraft, a statement from the Ukrainian president’s office said.
The presidents have agreed to ask French specialists to decode the plane’s black box. Macron said the formal procedure to launch the international investigation had been started and he would visit Kiev.The presidents have agreed to ask French specialists to decode the plane’s black box. Macron said the formal procedure to launch the international investigation had been started and he would visit Kiev.
The relatively quick admission by Iran that Ukraine International Airlines flight 752 was shot down by mistake has drawn comparisons with how Russia handled the MH17 case.The relatively quick admission by Iran that Ukraine International Airlines flight 752 was shot down by mistake has drawn comparisons with how Russia handled the MH17 case.
Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 was shot down over Ukraine by a Buk surface-to-air missile on 17 July 2014. Russia has always denied it played any role in the tragedy, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 was shot down over Ukraine by a Buk surface-to-air missile on 17 July 2014. Russia has always denied it played any role in the tragedy, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
Nick Waters, an investigator for Bellingcat, an independent investigative website which has been investigating the MH17 crash, has tweeted to say they had been preparing for a similar scenario to play out again with Iran denying involvement.Nick Waters, an investigator for Bellingcat, an independent investigative website which has been investigating the MH17 crash, has tweeted to say they had been preparing for a similar scenario to play out again with Iran denying involvement.
Protesters were due to be gathering outside the BBC’s London HQ at midday to demonstrate against war with Iran, even as attention is deflected for the time being on to the issue of Iran’s accidental shooting down of a Ukrainian airliner.Protesters were due to be gathering outside the BBC’s London HQ at midday to demonstrate against war with Iran, even as attention is deflected for the time being on to the issue of Iran’s accidental shooting down of a Ukrainian airliner.
The demonstration, organised by the ever-busy Stop the War Coalition, starts outside BBC Broadcasting House and will march to Trafalgar Square where speakers will address the rally.The demonstration, organised by the ever-busy Stop the War Coalition, starts outside BBC Broadcasting House and will march to Trafalgar Square where speakers will address the rally.
The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, and shadow home secretary, Diane Abbott, are among the prominent figures expected to join the demo, along with the musician Brian Eno and the standup comic Tez Ilyas.The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, and shadow home secretary, Diane Abbott, are among the prominent figures expected to join the demo, along with the musician Brian Eno and the standup comic Tez Ilyas.
In a statement sent out ahead of the demonstration, Kate Hudson, the general secretary of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, said:In a statement sent out ahead of the demonstration, Kate Hudson, the general secretary of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, said:
The chief of Ukrainian International Airlines, Evgeniy Dikhne, has rejected claims by Iran that the shooting down of its airliner was in some way prompted by a mistake by his crew.The chief of Ukrainian International Airlines, Evgeniy Dikhne, has rejected claims by Iran that the shooting down of its airliner was in some way prompted by a mistake by his crew.
Speaking at a press conference arranged before Iran’s surprise admission of responsibility for shooting down UIA flight 752, Dikhne stressed that his company had received no indication from Iranian or international civil aviation authorities that it would be unsafe to fly over the country. He added:Speaking at a press conference arranged before Iran’s surprise admission of responsibility for shooting down UIA flight 752, Dikhne stressed that his company had received no indication from Iranian or international civil aviation authorities that it would be unsafe to fly over the country. He added:
The vice president of UIA, Igor Sosnovskiy, continued, saying that Tehran airport had been fully open and operational, despite the tensions between Iran and the US. He spoke of the crew’s competency, who had clocked up thousands of hours of flight time.The vice president of UIA, Igor Sosnovskiy, continued, saying that Tehran airport had been fully open and operational, despite the tensions between Iran and the US. He spoke of the crew’s competency, who had clocked up thousands of hours of flight time.
Iran should have closed the airport, Sosnovskiy said, and having failed to do so the country must take full responsibility for the downing of the jet and the lives lost.Iran should have closed the airport, Sosnovskiy said, and having failed to do so the country must take full responsibility for the downing of the jet and the lives lost.
A thread here by Reza Khaasteh, a journalist with Iran Front Page news, translates in more detail the statements by the Revolutionary Guards’ Gen Amir Ali Hajizadeh in a press conference in which he admits his unit’s responsibility for shooting down UIA 752.A thread here by Reza Khaasteh, a journalist with Iran Front Page news, translates in more detail the statements by the Revolutionary Guards’ Gen Amir Ali Hajizadeh in a press conference in which he admits his unit’s responsibility for shooting down UIA 752.
The head of the aerospace division of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards has said he “wishes he could die”, as his unit accepted responsibility for shooting down UIA 752.The head of the aerospace division of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards has said he “wishes he could die”, as his unit accepted responsibility for shooting down UIA 752.
“I wish I could die and not witness such an accident,” Gen Amir Ali Hajizadeh said in a video posted online by Iranian state TV on Saturday.“I wish I could die and not witness such an accident,” Gen Amir Ali Hajizadeh said in a video posted online by Iranian state TV on Saturday.
According to translations by Reuters, Hajizadeh says he told authorities on Wednesday about the unintentional missile attack, and that the plane was brought down by a short-range missile.According to translations by Reuters, Hajizadeh says he told authorities on Wednesday about the unintentional missile attack, and that the plane was brought down by a short-range missile.
He says he partly blames the attack on the US, for its assassination of the Iranian general Qassem Suleimani on Iraqi soil last week, which heightened tensions in the region and led to a tit-for-tat strike by Iran on US bases.He says he partly blames the attack on the US, for its assassination of the Iranian general Qassem Suleimani on Iraqi soil last week, which heightened tensions in the region and led to a tit-for-tat strike by Iran on US bases.