MH17 crash: Ukraine accuses rebels of removing bodies from crash site

KUALA LUMPUR/KIEV: The Ukrainian government has complained that pro-Moscow rebels have removed 38 bodies from the MH17 crash site. It accused them of moving the bodies to a morgue in the rebel-held city of Donetsk. It said the rebels were also trying to transport the plane’s wreckage to Russia. Ukraine accused Russia of helping pro-Moscow rebels to destroy evidence of “international crimes” at the site of the aircrash.

Meanwhile Malaysian investigators arrived in Kiev amid calls for access to the area where the jet came down.

Malaysian investigators touched down in Kiev as global shock and outrage mounted over the downing of the Malaysia Airlines passenger jet killing all 298 people on board. “The Ukrainian government officially announces: terrorists with the support of Russia are trying to destroy proof of this international crime,” Ukraine’s government said in a statement.

The Boeing 777 was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur. It fell between Krasni Luch in Luhansk region and Shakhtarsk in the neighbouring region of Donetsk. It is believed flight MH17 crashed after being hit by a surface-to-air missile fired from a rebelheld area. All 298 people on board died. The Ukrainian government and separatist groups have agreed to create a safety zone around the site where Malaysia Airlines (MAS) Flight MH17 crashed.

Ukraine Ambassador to Malaysia Ihor V Humenyyi told the Malaysian Bernama news agency that the Ukrainian authorities and the rebels -- currently in control of the territory -- had agreed that no combat action would be carried out in the area of 400 square kilometeres to enable investigations.