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MH17 plane crash: Train with bodies leaves Ukraine station | MH17 plane crash: Train with bodies leaves Ukraine station |
(35 minutes later) | |
Pro-Russian rebels have allowed bodies from the Malaysia Airlines plane crash to be taken to the city of Kharkiv. | |
Malaysia's PM said the separatists had also agreed to hand over the "black box" flight recorders of flight MH17. | |
The UN Security Council has unanimously adopted a resolution demanding access to the crash site. Western nations say the rebels shot down the plane on 17 July, killing all 298 people on board. | |
Meanwhile, the main rebel-held city of Donetsk has seen heavy clashes. | |
Eyewitnesses say there is violence near the city's airport and the railway station. | |
At the scene: The BBC's Fergal Keane in Donetsk | At the scene: The BBC's Fergal Keane in Donetsk |
For three hours close to the railway station I watched as several hundred civilians fled past. | For three hours close to the railway station I watched as several hundred civilians fled past. |
There was shelling throughout the morning, some from Grad rockets but also mortar fire and intermittent sniper shots. | There was shelling throughout the morning, some from Grad rockets but also mortar fire and intermittent sniper shots. |
Most of this seemed to be coming from the direction of villages on the road between the airport and the railway station. | Most of this seemed to be coming from the direction of villages on the road between the airport and the railway station. |
It was impossible to be sure who was firing or in which direction. However we saw the aftermath of a rocket strike in the playground of an apartment complex close to the station - a rebel controlled area. | It was impossible to be sure who was firing or in which direction. However we saw the aftermath of a rocket strike in the playground of an apartment complex close to the station - a rebel controlled area. |
Next to the crater lay a pool of blood, a man's shoes and a pair of glasses. | Next to the crater lay a pool of blood, a man's shoes and a pair of glasses. |
Donetsk clashes hamper MH17 recovery | Donetsk clashes hamper MH17 recovery |
At least three civilians were reported killed, and one multi-storey building was seen on fire. Residents are fleeing, according to BBC correspondents in the area. | At least three civilians were reported killed, and one multi-storey building was seen on fire. Residents are fleeing, according to BBC correspondents in the area. |
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. |
'Safe access' | 'Safe access' |
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak announced he had received assurances from Alexander Borodai, the leader of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, that the remains of 282 passengers would be moved by train to Kharkiv and handed over to international investigators. | Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak announced he had received assurances from Alexander Borodai, the leader of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, that the remains of 282 passengers would be moved by train to Kharkiv and handed over to international investigators. |
Mr Najib did not clarify what would happen with the remaining bodies. | Mr Najib did not clarify what would happen with the remaining bodies. |
He said the rebels had also agreed to hand over two "black-box" flight-data recorders recovered from the crash site to a Malaysian team, and that independent international experts would "be guaranteed safe access" to the site to begin their investigation. | He said the rebels had also agreed to hand over two "black-box" flight-data recorders recovered from the crash site to a Malaysian team, and that independent international experts would "be guaranteed safe access" to the site to begin their investigation. |
The train's departure comes after tough negotiations between the international community and the separatists, who had been accused of hampering access to the crash site. | The train's departure comes after tough negotiations between the international community and the separatists, who had been accused of hampering access to the crash site. |
Earlier on Monday, three Dutch experts became the first international investigators to examine the bodies of the victims in the carriages in Torez, some 15km away from the crash site. | Earlier on Monday, three Dutch experts became the first international investigators to examine the bodies of the victims in the carriages in Torez, some 15km away from the crash site. |
The team said the storage of the bodies had been "of good quality". | The team said the storage of the bodies had been "of good quality". |
The investigators also later visited the area where the Boeing 777 went down after being reportedly hit by a missile. | The investigators also later visited the area where the Boeing 777 went down after being reportedly hit by a missile. |
Monitors from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe 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 have been at the accident site, but their access to the wreckage was limited by the rebels. |
There has been international outcry over the way rebels have handled the situation, leaving passengers' remains exposed to summer heat and allowing untrained volunteers to comb through the area. | There has been international outcry over the way rebels have handled the situation, leaving passengers' remains exposed to summer heat and allowing untrained volunteers to comb through the area. |
President Barack Obama earlier accused the rebels of tampering with potential evidence and called for the international experts to be granted "immediate and full" access to the site. | President Barack Obama earlier accused the rebels of tampering with potential evidence and called for the international experts to be granted "immediate and full" access to the site. |
He also warned that Russia would "only further isolate itself" if it failed to compel the separatists to co-operate. | He also 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. |
The defence ministry said a Ukrainian military plane had flown within firing range of the airliner just before it came down, but Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has rejected the claim. | The defence ministry said a Ukrainian military plane had flown within firing range of the airliner just before it came down, but Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has rejected the claim. |