This article is from the source 'bbc' 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.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-28431943

The article has changed 22 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 6 Version 7
First MH17 dead being flown to Netherlands from Ukraine MH17 plane crash: Victims begin journey home from Ukraine
(35 minutes later)
The first bodies recovered from the Malaysia Airlines plane that crashed in Ukraine last week are to be flown to the Netherlands for identification. The first planes carrying victims' bodies from crashed flight MH17 have left Ukraine for the Netherlands, where experts will begin identifying them.
The Netherlands is holding a day of mourning for the 298 killed in the 17 July crash, 193 of whom were Dutch. The Dutch prime minister will meet the planes in Eindhoven, amid a national day of mourning for the victims.
Meanwhile, US intelligence officials say pro-Russian rebels shot down the jet by mistake, but they have not found any direct link to Russia. A total of 200 bodies have so far been accounted for from the 298 victims, 193 of whom were Dutch nationals.
The plane crashed in a rebel-held area after apparently being hit by a rocket. The US says it believes pro-Russian rebels shot down the Malaysia Airlines passenger plane on 17 July by mistake.
The rebels have been accused of stalling investigators, tampering with evidence and giving inaccurate information about the number of bodies recovered. The rebels, who control the area around the crash site, have also been accused of stalling the release of the bodies and tampering with evidence.
A refrigerated train carriage carrying about 200 bodies arrived at the government-held city of Kharkiv on Tuesday, four days after the crash.A refrigerated train carriage carrying about 200 bodies arrived at the government-held city of Kharkiv on Tuesday, four days after the crash.
Experts said they would continue to search the crash site.Experts said they would continue to search the crash site.
On Wednesday morning, 40 coffins were slowly loaded on to two military planes at Kharkiv airport.On Wednesday morning, 40 coffins were slowly loaded on to two military planes at Kharkiv airport.
The BBC's Daniel Sandford in Kharkiv says ambassadors, officials and soldiers gathered to see off the planes.The BBC's Daniel Sandford in Kharkiv says ambassadors, officials and soldiers gathered to see off the planes.
Australian government envoy Angus Houston said the ceremony was intended to give the victims the "respect and dignity they deserve" after a "tragedy of unspeakable proportions".Australian government envoy Angus Houston said the ceremony was intended to give the victims the "respect and dignity they deserve" after a "tragedy of unspeakable proportions".
The first flight is due to arrive in Eindhoven at 16:00 local time (14:00 GMT) and will be met by members of the Dutch royal family and the Prime Minister Mark Rutte will meet the plane. The Dutch government representative said the victims had begun their "long journey" home.
The bodies are then due to be taken to the Korporaal van Oudheusden barracks for identification. The first flight is due to arrive in Eindhoven at 16:00 local time (14:00 GMT) and will be met by members of the Dutch royal family and the Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
The bodies are then due to be taken to the Korporaal van Oudheusden barracks south of Hilversum for identification.
Mr Rutte said that process could take months.Mr Rutte said that process could take months.
In a separate process, the "black box" flight-data recorders from MH17 have been handed to Dutch authorities by Malaysian officials. In a separate process, the "black box" flight-data recorders from MH17 have arrived in the UK, where they will be examined at the headquarters of the Air Accidents Investigation Branch in Farnborough.
The devices will be sent to Farnborough in the UK for analysis.
In Washington, officials from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence presented evidence they had gathered on the involvement of the rebels.In Washington, officials from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence presented evidence they had gathered on the involvement of the rebels.
"It's a solid case that it's an SA-11 [missile] that was fired from eastern Ukraine under conditions the Russians helped create," said the officials, who requested that their names not be reported."It's a solid case that it's an SA-11 [missile] that was fired from eastern Ukraine under conditions the Russians helped create," said the officials, who requested that their names not be reported.
They said the "most plausible explanation" for the shooting down of the plane was that rebels mistook it for another aircraft.They said the "most plausible explanation" for the shooting down of the plane was that rebels mistook it for another aircraft.
The evidence they presented included:The evidence they presented included:
Separately, a rebel militiaman told Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera that he had been ordered to the crash site minutes after the plane had gone down.Separately, a rebel militiaman told Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera that he had been ordered to the crash site minutes after the plane had gone down.
He said his commanders had told him: "We've just shot down one of the Kiev fascists' planes."He said his commanders had told him: "We've just shot down one of the Kiev fascists' planes."
"We thought we were looking for baled-out Ukrainian pilots but instead we found dead civilians." The militiaman said: "We thought we were looking for baled-out Ukrainian pilots but instead we found dead civilians."
The US and other nations have accused rebels of blocking access to the crash site, putting valuable evidence at risk.The US and other nations have accused rebels of blocking access to the crash site, putting valuable evidence at risk.
In Australia, former American President Bill Clinton paid tribute to six HIV/Aids campaigners who were on board MH17.In Australia, former American President Bill Clinton paid tribute to six HIV/Aids campaigners who were on board MH17.
He said their lives had been "overpowering in their contribution to a shared future".He said their lives had been "overpowering in their contribution to a shared future".
Meanwhile, the conflict between Ukrainian government forces and rebels has continued, with reports of fighting near Donetsk and Luhansk.Meanwhile, the conflict between Ukrainian government forces and rebels has continued, with reports of fighting near Donetsk and Luhansk.
Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said on Tuesday the army had captured the town of Severodonetsk, 140km (90 miles) from the rebel stronghold of Donetsk.Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said on Tuesday the army had captured the town of Severodonetsk, 140km (90 miles) from the rebel stronghold of Donetsk.
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.