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MH17 plane crash: Dutch experts examine bodies | MH17 plane crash: Dutch experts examine bodies |
(about 17 hours later) | |
Pro-Russian rebels have allowed Dutch investigators to examine bodies from the crashed Malaysia Airlines plane at a railway station in eastern Ukraine. | Pro-Russian rebels have allowed Dutch investigators to examine bodies from the crashed Malaysia Airlines plane at a railway station in eastern Ukraine. |
The three Dutch experts said the train might leave the town of Torez later. | The three Dutch experts said the train might leave the town of Torez later. |
All 298 people on board flight MH17 died when it crashed over the rebel-held area on 17 July. The US and other nations say there is growing evidence of Russian complicity in the crash. | All 298 people on board flight MH17 died when it crashed over the rebel-held area on 17 July. The US and other nations say there is growing evidence of Russian complicity in the crash. |
Meanwhile, heavy fighting is reported in the main rebel-held city of Donetsk. | Meanwhile, heavy fighting is reported in the main rebel-held city of Donetsk. |
The clashes - involving heavy weapons - are continuing near the city's airport and the railway station, eyewitnesses say. | The clashes - involving heavy weapons - are continuing near the city's airport and the railway station, eyewitnesses say. |
At least three civilians were reported killed, and one multi-storey building was seen on fire. Residents are fleeing the city, report BBC correspondents on the ground. | At least three civilians were reported killed, and one multi-storey building was seen on fire. Residents are fleeing the city, report BBC correspondents on the ground. |
The fighting in eastern Ukraine erupted in April and is believed to have claimed more than 1,000 lives. | The fighting in eastern Ukraine erupted in April and is believed to have claimed more than 1,000 lives. |
In other developments on Monday: | In other developments on Monday: |
'Wake-up call' | 'Wake-up call' |
The Dutch experts from the Disaster Victims Identification team are the first international investigators to arrive in the region where the Boeing 777 went down after being reportedly hit by a missile. | The Dutch experts from the Disaster Victims Identification team are the first international investigators to arrive in the region where the Boeing 777 went down after being reportedly hit by a missile. |
Monitors from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) have been at the accident site, but their access to the wreckage was limited by the rebels. | Monitors from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) have been at the accident site, but their access to the wreckage was limited by the rebels. |
On Monday, the Dutch experts examined some of the 196 bodies kept in refrigerator wagons in Torez, some 15km away from the crash site. | On Monday, the Dutch experts examined some of the 196 bodies kept in refrigerator wagons in Torez, some 15km away from the crash site. |
"I think the storage of the bodies is of good quality," team leader Peter van Leit said after the inspection. | "I think the storage of the bodies is of good quality," team leader Peter van Leit said after the inspection. |
The investigators added that they had urged the rebels to allow the train to leave. | The investigators added that they had urged the rebels to allow the train to leave. |
Correspondents in Torez said the smell of decay emanating from the carriages was overwhelming. | Correspondents in Torez said the smell of decay emanating from the carriages was overwhelming. |
The Dutch experts also later visited the crash site, where some passengers' remains were still lying in bags exposed to summer heat. | The Dutch experts also later visited the crash site, where some passengers' remains were still lying in bags exposed to summer heat. |
International reaction: | International reaction: |
'Site compromised' | 'Site compromised' |
A Malaysian team of 133 officials and experts, comprising of search and recovery personnel, forensics experts, technical and medical experts has arrived in Ukraine. A separate UK group of air accident investigators is also there. | A Malaysian team of 133 officials and experts, comprising of search and recovery personnel, forensics experts, technical and medical experts has arrived in Ukraine. A separate UK group of air accident investigators is also there. |
But the government in Kiev says it has been unable to establish a safe corridor to the crash site. | But the government in Kiev says it has been unable to establish a safe corridor to the crash site. |
There has been international outcry over the way rebels have handled the situation, delaying access to the site and allowing untrained volunteers to comb through the area. | There has been international outcry over the way rebels have handled the situation, delaying access to the site and allowing untrained volunteers to comb through the area. |
The rebels have said they will hand over MH17's flight recorders to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). | The rebels have said they will hand over MH17's flight recorders to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). |
But US President Barack Obama has accused rebels of tampering with other potential evidence and called for the international experts to be granted "immediate and full" access to the site. | But US President Barack Obama has accused rebels of tampering with other potential evidence and called for the international experts to be granted "immediate and full" access to the site. |
"What exactly are [the rebels] trying to hide?" he said at a press briefing on Monday. | "What exactly are [the rebels] trying to hide?" he said at a press briefing on Monday. |
Mr Obama warned that Russia would "only further isolate itself" if it failed to compel the separatists to co-operate. | Mr Obama warned that Russia would "only further isolate itself" if it failed to compel the separatists to co-operate. |
British Prime Minister David Cameron said there was strong evidence that pro-Russian separatists shot down the plane with an anti-aircraft system known as Buk. | British Prime Minister David Cameron said there was strong evidence that pro-Russian separatists shot down the plane with an anti-aircraft system known as Buk. |
Russia on Monday again denied allegations that it had supplied such missiles or "any other weapons" to the rebels. | Russia on Monday again denied allegations that it had supplied such missiles or "any other weapons" to the rebels. |
Separately, the Netherlands announced on Monday it had opened an investigation into the disaster, which killed 193 Dutch nationals. | Separately, the Netherlands announced on Monday it had opened an investigation into the disaster, which killed 193 Dutch nationals. |
A spokesman for Dutch prosecutors said the charges could include murder, war crimes and intentionally downing an airliner. | A spokesman for Dutch prosecutors said the charges could include murder, war crimes and intentionally downing an airliner. |
The Netherlands claims the right under international law to prosecute anyone suspected of committing a war crime against a Dutch citizen. | The Netherlands claims the right under international law to prosecute anyone suspected of committing a war crime against a Dutch citizen. |
The Boeing 777 was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it crashed between Krasni Luch in Luhansk region and Shakhtarsk in the region of Donetsk. | The Boeing 777 was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it crashed between Krasni Luch in Luhansk region and Shakhtarsk in the region of Donetsk. |