MH17 plane crash: Dutch experts examine bodies

Pro-Russia separatists filmed this video in the aftermath of the plane crash, as Fergal Keane reports Three Dutch investigators have examined bodies from the crashed Malaysia Airlines passenger plane, which are being kept on a train in east Ukraine. The experts said the train may later leave the rebel-held town of Torez to start identification process. The US and other nations say there is growing evidence of Russian complicity in the downing of the plane last week. All 298 people on board MH17 died. Meanwhile, heavy fighting is reported in the main rebel-held city of Donetsk. Reports say clashes – involving heavy weapons – are going near the city’s airport and the railway station. At least three civilians were reported killed and one multi-storey building was seen on fire. BBC correspondents on the ground spoke of a number of refugees fleeing the city. Natalia Antelava is handed passenger documents by volunteers at the crash site: “It shows you how badly organised it is… they don’t know who to give this to” In other developments on Monday: Ukrainian officials say 272 bodies have so far been found Ukrainian PM Arseniy Yatsenyuk proposes that the Netherlands will lead an international investigation A separate group of 31 international investigators is now in the eastern city of Kharkiv. They are expected to proceed closer to the crash site shortly. Russian President Vladimir Putin says it is essential to give international experts complete security so they can conduct an independent investigation ‘Wake-up call’ The Dutch experts are the first international investigators to arrive in the region where the Boeing 777 went down on 17 July. Monitors from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) have been at the accident site, but their access to the wreckage has been limited by the rebels. On Monday, the Dutch experts examined some of the 196 bodies kept in refrigerator wagons in Torez, some 15km (9 miles) away from the crash site. A second train arrived there on Sunday to take more bodies on board. Pressure has been steadily growing on pro-Russian rebels to allow experts access to the site. Source : BBC Online