This article is from the source 'nytimes' 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.nytimes.com/2014/07/19/world/europe/world-leaders-call-for-inquiry-into-ukraine-plane-crash.html

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
World Leaders Match Anger with Calls for Inquiry Into Ukraine Plane Crash World Leaders Match Anger With Calls for Inquiry Into Ukraine Plane Crash
(about 1 hour later)
LONDON — From Australia to Britain to the United States, political leaders on Friday urged a rapid independent effort to investigate the crash of a Malaysian airliner in eastern Ukraine that killed 298 people and provoked a blistering exchange of accusations that the Boeing 777 had been brought down by a Russian-made surface-to-air missile. LONDON — With sentiments ranging from shock to dismay to anger, political leaders across the globe on Friday urged a rapid, independent and international effort to investigate the crash of a Malaysian airliner in eastern Ukraine that killed 298 people and provoked a blistering exchange of accusations over who brought down the Boeing 777.
The crash dominated newspaper front pages in many European countries, relegating accounts of Israel’s ground offensive in Gaza into second place.The crash dominated newspaper front pages in many European countries, relegating accounts of Israel’s ground offensive in Gaza into second place.
At the center of the international furor — and its likely impact on Washington’s demands for ever-tighter sanctions against Moscow over its support of separatists in the conflict in Ukraine — stood President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, who also called on Friday for a “thorough and unbiased” inquiry into the disaster.At the center of the international furor — and its likely impact on Washington’s demands for ever-tighter sanctions against Moscow over its support of separatists in the conflict in Ukraine — stood President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, who also called on Friday for a “thorough and unbiased” inquiry into the disaster.
Mr. Putin spoke on Friday with the Dutch prime minister, Mark Rutte, who broke off a vacation after learning that a majority of those who died in the crash were Dutch citizens. The Netherlands has declared a national day of mourning for the 154 Dutch citizens reported killed. Mr. Putin spoke on Friday with the Dutch prime minister, Mark Rutte, who broke off a vacation after learning that a majority of those who died in the crash were Dutch. The Netherlands has declared a national day of mourning for the 154 Dutch citizens reported killed.
In a telephone conversation with Mr. Rutte, the Russian leader “underlined that the tragedy yet again highlighted the need for the swiftest peaceful solution to the acute crisis in Ukraine,” the Kremlin said in a statement quoted by Reuters. The statement echoed earlier Russian comments about the bloody conflict in eastern Ukraine, during which separatist insurgents have recently claimed to have shot down Ukrainian government military transport planes. In a telephone conversation with Mr. Rutte, the Russian leader “underlined that the tragedy yet again highlighted the need for the swiftest peaceful solution to the acute crisis in Ukraine,” the Kremlin said in a statement quoted by Reuters. The statement echoed earlier Russian comments about the bloody conflict in eastern Ukraine, during which separatist insurgents have recently claimed to have shot down Ukrainian military transport planes.
In Britain, Prime Minister David Cameron summoned a meeting of the high-level crisis response committee, known as Cobra, which debates matters of national security. Nine Britons were reported to be among the dead from Flight 17. Echoing the calls for an full inquiry, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany said there were “many indications that it was shot down.”
The harshest criticism came from Prime Minister Tony Abbott of Australia, who said that the Russian response to the crash is “deeply, deeply unsatisfactory.” The dead included a reported 28 Australians. The Russian ambassador to Australia had earlier met with the foreign minister, Julie Bishop. “Russia’s responsibility is clear,” the chancellor said, calling on Mr. Putin and his government to do their part “to find ways to reach a permanent cease-fire.”
“The initial response of the Russian ambassador was to blame Ukraine for this and I have to say that is deeply, deeply unsatisfactory,” Mr. Abbott said. He added: “This looks less like an accident than a crime.” “It will be a difficult path, but there is no alternative to a political solution,” the chancellor told reporters.
Pressed about whether Germany, which has strong economic ties to Russia, would support stronger action against Mr. Putin, Ms. Merkel declined to threaten further sanctions.
In Britain, Prime Minister David Cameron summoned a meeting of the high-level crisis response committee known as Cobra, which debates matters of national security. Nine Britons were reported to be among the dead from Flight 17. The committee takes its name from the location of its meetings in Cabinet Office Briefing Room A.
The harshest public criticism came from Prime Minister Tony Abbott of Australia, who said that the Russian response to the crash was “deeply, deeply unsatisfactory.” The dead were reported to have included 28 Australians. The Russian ambassador to Australia had earlier met with the foreign minister, Julie Bishop.
“The initial response of the Russian ambassador was to blame Ukraine for this and I have to say that is deeply, deeply unsatisfactory,” Mr. Abbott said, adding that “the idea that Russia can somehow say that none of this has anything to do with them because it happened in Ukrainian airspace frankly does not stand up to any serious scrutiny.”
“This looks less like an accident than a crime,” he said, “and if so the perpetrators must be brought to justice.”
In France, officials said they were still trying to determine whether any French citizens were on the flight. Initially, the foreign minister, Laurent Fabius, said there were at least four French passengers on the plane, but then said it was unclear whether French citizens had been on board.
Britain has submitted a United Nations resolution calling for an international investigation into the crash. A proposal was expected to be discussed at a special meeting of the United Nations Security Council in New York on Friday. The British call for an international inquiry has been echoed by the White House, the United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, and the NATO secretary general, Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
“It is important that a full international investigation should be launched immediately, without any hindrance, to establish the facts and that those who may be responsible are swiftly brought to justice,” Mr. Rasmussen said in a statement.
The British foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, said he was deeply shocked and determined to find out what had happened. “We believe that there must be a U.N.-led international investigation of the facts,” he said in a statement.
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe said it had conducted two videoconferences with pro-Russian separatist groups, which had agreed to secure the site of the crash, provide safe access for rescue teams, national and international investigators, and cooperate with the Ukrainian authorities.
In eastern Europe, which has watched Russia’s maneuvers in Ukraine with growing alarm, there were calls to bring the perpetrators of the crash to justice. “Unspeakable horror” for the passengers “of downed flight #MH17,” Poland’s foreign minister, Radoslaw Sikorski, wrote on Twitter. “Condolences to families, justice for perpetrators and those who enabled them.”
The passengers included delegates to a gathering of the International AIDS Society to be held in the Australian city of Melbourne from Sunday until July 25.