Malaysia Airlines MH17 crash: Barack Obama calls for immediate ceasefire in Ukraine

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama today called for an immediate ceasefire between Ukraine's Russia-backed separatists and the government there after a Malaysian passenger jet was shot down by a missile from rebel-held territory, killing 298 people on board.

Deeply disturbed by the death of people on board the ill-fated Malaysia Airlines' Flight MH 17, Obama sought a credible international investigation into the incident.

He said the airliner was shot down by a surface-to-air missile in an area controlled by Russian-backed separatists.

Calling it a global tragedy in remarks from the White House, the US President lashed out at Russia for continuing to back Ukrainian separatist destabilising the situation in Ukraine.

The plane was shot down near the border between Ukraine and Russia. The incident occurred one day after Obama announced broader economic sanctions against Russia for its threatening moves in Ukraine.

Obama said Russian President Vladimir Putin must act to rein in Ukraine separatists.

He confirmed that one American was among the dead.