Malaysia PM & John Kerry demands access to crash site
World |
Area where Malaysia Airlines flight went down threatens to become a nightmare for forensic teams involved in crash investigation. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry calls for Russia to use its influence to allow investigators access to the Malaysian Airlines crash site
Malaysia's prime minister thanked both Russia and Ukraine on Sunday for their offers of assistance in the investigation into "downed" flight MH17, but asked for it to be immediately translated into easy access for "international investigators" to the crash site.
The area in Ukraine's east near its border with Russia where the Malaysia Airlines flight went down Thursday killing all 298 people on board has threatened to become a nightmare for forensic teams involved in the investigation.
While Ukraine has accused pro-Russia separatists of limiting access to the site and trying to destroy evidence, self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic leader Alexander Borodai has told reporters that Ukraine is the one thwarting the investigation.
Malaysia's Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai said that "The integrity of the site has been compromised, and there are indications that vital evidence has not been preserved in place."
Liow Tiong Lai has since joined a team of more than 60 Malaysian relief workers and investigators in Ukraine, whose emergency services stated Sunday that all 196 bodies recovered so far have been taken away from the site by the pro-Moscow rebels to an unknown location.
Prime Minister Najib Razak said in a Facebook post Sunday that Malaysia "and global communities" would be grateful to both the nations if they just left the site alone.
U.S. President Barack Obama has said that the Kuala Lumpur-bound flight MH17 from Amsterdam was shot down by a surface-to-air missile, launched from an area controlled by Russian-backed separatists inside of eastern Ukraine.
Razak said Sunday that since the incident happened, many parties had declared their support for Malaysia to bring whoever was responsible to justice.
Obama called Najib soon after the disaster to extend condolences and they had both agreed that an international team be allowed to the site and no one should tamper with any evidence, including the plane's black box.
Razak said in his post that the U.S. commander-in-chief also offered assistance on the setting up of an international probe team and reiterated his stand on good relations between the two countries.
He added that the United Nations Security Council - through its president, Eugene-Richard Gasana - had also called for a full and independent investigation based on international civil aviation law."
The Security Council has also impressed upon the parties involved to allow the investigation team to enter the crash site in order to identify the cause," he said.
Razak also sent his condolences to Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott over the loss of Australian passengers' lives on the ill-fated airliner.
He advised Malaysians to remain united and steadfast in facing the crisis, and to continue to pray for Malaysia to be spared from future calamities.
--- Kerry demands 'unfettered' access to Ukraine crash site
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has spoken to Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov about concerns that the crash site of the Malaysian airliner brought down on Thursday night is being tampered with.
In a telephone call on Saturday, Kerry called for Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe investigators to be given full access to the site in eastern Ukraine, which is under the control of pro-Russian rebels.
According to a statement from the State Department, Kerry said: "The United States is also very concerned about reports that the remains of some victims and debris from the site are being tampered with or inappropriately removed from the site."
The OSCE team has only been granted very limited access to the scattered debris near Grabovo, close to the Russian border.
It has been reported that the site of the crash, which killed all 298 people aboard flight MH17, has been looted and bodies taken away. There have also been accusations that the black box flight recorders have been removed although this has been denied by separatist leaders.
The State Department added: "The site is not secure and there are multiple reports of bodies being removed, parts of the plane and other debris being hauled away, and potential evidence tampered with."
Kerry urged Foreign Minister Lavrov to take all necessary steps to reduce tension in eastern Ukraine and call on separatists "to lay down arms, release all hostages and engage in a political dialogue toward peace with the Ukrainian government; to halt the flow of weapons and fighters into eastern Ukraine; and to allow OSCE observers to help secure the border."
The area in Ukraine's east near its border with Russia where the Malaysia Airlines flight went down Thursday killing all 298 people on board has threatened to become a nightmare for forensic teams involved in the investigation.
While Ukraine has accused pro-Russia separatists of limiting access to the site and trying to destroy evidence, self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic leader Alexander Borodai has told reporters that Ukraine is the one thwarting the investigation.
Malaysia's Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai said that "The integrity of the site has been compromised, and there are indications that vital evidence has not been preserved in place."
Liow Tiong Lai has since joined a team of more than 60 Malaysian relief workers and investigators in Ukraine, whose emergency services stated Sunday that all 196 bodies recovered so far have been taken away from the site by the pro-Moscow rebels to an unknown location.
Prime Minister Najib Razak said in a Facebook post Sunday that Malaysia "and global communities" would be grateful to both the nations if they just left the site alone.
U.S. President Barack Obama has said that the Kuala Lumpur-bound flight MH17 from Amsterdam was shot down by a surface-to-air missile, launched from an area controlled by Russian-backed separatists inside of eastern Ukraine.
Razak said Sunday that since the incident happened, many parties had declared their support for Malaysia to bring whoever was responsible to justice.
Obama called Najib soon after the disaster to extend condolences and they had both agreed that an international team be allowed to the site and no one should tamper with any evidence, including the plane's black box.
Razak said in his post that the U.S. commander-in-chief also offered assistance on the setting up of an international probe team and reiterated his stand on good relations between the two countries.
He added that the United Nations Security Council - through its president, Eugene-Richard Gasana - had also called for a full and independent investigation based on international civil aviation law."
The Security Council has also impressed upon the parties involved to allow the investigation team to enter the crash site in order to identify the cause," he said.
Razak also sent his condolences to Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott over the loss of Australian passengers' lives on the ill-fated airliner.
He advised Malaysians to remain united and steadfast in facing the crisis, and to continue to pray for Malaysia to be spared from future calamities.
--- Kerry demands 'unfettered' access to Ukraine crash site
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has spoken to Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov about concerns that the crash site of the Malaysian airliner brought down on Thursday night is being tampered with.
In a telephone call on Saturday, Kerry called for Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe investigators to be given full access to the site in eastern Ukraine, which is under the control of pro-Russian rebels.
According to a statement from the State Department, Kerry said: "The United States is also very concerned about reports that the remains of some victims and debris from the site are being tampered with or inappropriately removed from the site."
The OSCE team has only been granted very limited access to the scattered debris near Grabovo, close to the Russian border.
It has been reported that the site of the crash, which killed all 298 people aboard flight MH17, has been looted and bodies taken away. There have also been accusations that the black box flight recorders have been removed although this has been denied by separatist leaders.
The State Department added: "The site is not secure and there are multiple reports of bodies being removed, parts of the plane and other debris being hauled away, and potential evidence tampered with."
Kerry urged Foreign Minister Lavrov to take all necessary steps to reduce tension in eastern Ukraine and call on separatists "to lay down arms, release all hostages and engage in a political dialogue toward peace with the Ukrainian government; to halt the flow of weapons and fighters into eastern Ukraine; and to allow OSCE observers to help secure the border."
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