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Downing of MH17 jet in Ukraine 'may be war crime' - UN Downing of MH17 jet in Ukraine 'may be war crime' - UN
(about 1 hour later)
The downing of Malaysia Airlines jet MH17 in eastern Ukraine may constitute a "war crime", the UN human rights chief Navi Pillay says.The downing of Malaysia Airlines jet MH17 in eastern Ukraine may constitute a "war crime", the UN human rights chief Navi Pillay says.
Ukraine and Western governments believe pro-Russian rebels shot down MH17, using a missile system supplied by Russia. All 298 people on board - most of them Dutch - died on 17 July. Ukraine and Western governments believe pro-Russian rebels shot down MH17, using a Russia-supplied missile system.
Moscow and the rebels have blamed Ukrainian forces for the plane crash.Moscow and the rebels have blamed Ukrainian forces for the plane crash.
Dutch and Australian police are now heading for the crash site. All 298 people on board - mostly Dutch - died on 17 July. Heavy fighting has again prevented an international police force from reaching the crash site.
Heavy fighting in the area prevented the police going there earlier. They want to help secure the huge crash site - in rebel-held territory - so that plane wreckage and human remains can be examined by international crash experts. The Ukrainian military said it was battling separatists for control of several towns near the site in eastern Ukraine.
The international police want to help secure the huge site so that plane wreckage and human remains can be examined by international crash experts.
Most of the bodies have been removed, many of them repatriated to the Netherlands.Most of the bodies have been removed, many of them repatriated to the Netherlands.
"This violation of international law, given the prevailing circumstances, may amount to a war crime," Ms Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said in Geneva. Heavy fighting
"This violation of international law, given the prevailing circumstances, may amount to a war crime," Ms Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said of the downing of MH17.
"Every effort will be made to ensure that anyone committing serious violations of international law including war crimes will be brought to justice, no matter who they are," Ms Pillay said.
At least 1,129 people have been killed and 3,442 wounded in the Ukraine conflict since mid-April, the UN said.At least 1,129 people have been killed and 3,442 wounded in the Ukraine conflict since mid-April, the UN said.
The conflict has displaced more than 200,000 people, many of whom have fled east to neighbouring Russia.The conflict has displaced more than 200,000 people, many of whom have fled east to neighbouring Russia.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday he hoped that monitors from the OSCE international security body would be able to deploy on the Ukraine-Russia border in the next few days.Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday he hoped that monitors from the OSCE international security body would be able to deploy on the Ukraine-Russia border in the next few days.
Heavy fighting In a statement on Monday, the Ukrainian military said it had "entered" the towns of Shakhtarsk and Torez and was working to seize control of Pervomaysk and Snizhne - all close to the crash site of MH17.
The Ukrainian army is trying to take control of two main roads, which the government in Kiev believes to be vital supply lines from Russia for rebel forces in Donetsk. A team of Australian and Dutch police and forensic experts was forced to abandon attempts to reach the site on Monday due to the security situation in the area. It was the second failed attempt in as many days.
The army is also trying to take control of two main roads in eastern Ukraine, which the government in Kiev believes to be vital supply lines from Russia for rebel forces in Donetsk.
In the past 24 hours there has been heavy artillery fire at the city of Horlivka, where several civilians were killed.In the past 24 hours there has been heavy artillery fire at the city of Horlivka, where several civilians were killed.
In the city of Donetsk at least three people died in shelling too, the municipal authorities say. And there are reports of civilian casualties as a result of the shelling of Luhansk, which is also held by the rebels.In the city of Donetsk at least three people died in shelling too, the municipal authorities say. And there are reports of civilian casualties as a result of the shelling of Luhansk, which is also held by the rebels.
"Every effort will be made to ensure that anyone committing serious violations of international law including war crimes will be brought to justice, no matter who they are," Ms Pillay said.
Last week, the US-based Human Rights Watch said both sides in the conflict were using unguided Grad rockets against civilian areas, in violation of human rights norms, and urged them to stop doing so. It documented several attacks in which, it said, the rockets were apparently fired by government forces.Last week, the US-based Human Rights Watch said both sides in the conflict were using unguided Grad rockets against civilian areas, in violation of human rights norms, and urged them to stop doing so. It documented several attacks in which, it said, the rockets were apparently fired by government forces.
The US has produced what it calls satellite evidence that rockets have been fired at Ukrainian forces from Russian soil.The US has produced what it calls satellite evidence that rockets have been fired at Ukrainian forces from Russian soil.
Russia denies that any of its forces are helping the rebels.Russia denies that any of its forces are helping the rebels.