09.14
Our correspondent in Donetsk, Ben Farmer, brings us the following update on attempts to secure the site.
He writes:
OSCE monitors are heading back to the crash site on Saturday morning after an unsuccessful visit on Friday evening.
The priority for the team will be to see how the bodies are being handled amid fears they will be taken across the border into Russia.
The team said they had been intimidated and warning shots had been fired over their heads on Friday.
Michael Bociurkiw, spokesman, said: "We didn't feel like our presence was welcome. We went out with 25 monitors. Access until the crash site was fine, but once we got there, everything changed.
"There was a lack of organisation, professionalism and security around the crash site.
"There was no obvious leadership. We were intimidated and limited to a very small area for a short time. Shots were fired in the air."
He said separatist leaders had given the team assurances of better treatment on Saturday.
09.40
REUTERS - UKRAINE GOVERNMENT ACCUSES PRO-RUSSIAN REBELS IN EASTERN UKRAINE OF TRYING TO DESTROY EVIDENCE AT MALAYSIAN AIRLINE CRASH SITE, SAYS REBELS HAVE TAKEN 38 BODIES FROM SITE
09.41
More on the allegations of rebels removing bodies from site:
The government of Ukraine officially states that the terrorists, with the help of Russia, are trying to destroy evidence of international crimes.
According to government data, the terrorists have taken 38 bodies to the morgue in (the eastern city of) Donetsk.
It accused specialists with "strong Russian accents" of threatening to carry out their own autopsies.
09.52
"Please look after my dog" - Tom Phillips in Kuala Lumpur reports on the last message from a Malaysia Airlines flight attendant to her family.
09.58
Our correspondent on the ground Roland Oliphant has confirmed that some bodies have been removed from the site of the crash.
He says:
I saw bodies being removed from a field. I presume they are being taken to a morgue. But it is complete chaos. There is also a war on and from where I am you can here artillery fire while all this continues.
However this morning in another area bodies were still lying where they fell.
I was told by Ukrainian rescue workers: "We have not moved them because there is an investigative team at work. Our orders are not to move them until the expert team arrives."
10.18
MALAYSIA TRANSPORT MINISTER SAYS CONCERNED UKRAINE CRASH SITE NOT PROPERLY SECURED, EVIDENCE NOT PRESERVED
10.19
We've just got the full statement from Liow Tiong Lai, the Malaysian transport minister:
Malaysia is deeply concerned that the crash site has not been properly secured. The integrity of the site has been compromised, and there are indications that vital evidence has not been preserved in place.
Interfering with the scene of the crash risks undermining the investigation itself. Any actions that prevent us from learning the truth about what happened to MH17 cannot be tolerated. Failure to stop such interference would be a betrayal of the lives that were lost.
Malaysia calls for all parties to protect the integrity of the crash site, and to allow the investigation to proceed. We urge all those involved to respect the families, and the nations who have lost their sons and daughters in this attack.
Yes, MH17 has become a geopolitical issue. But we must not forget that it is a human tragedy. Days after the plane went down, the remains of 298 people lie uncovered.
Citizens of eleven nations – none of whom are involved in the conflict in Eastern Ukraine –cannot be laid to rest. Their lives were taken by violence; now violence stops them being accorded their final respect. This cannot continue.
10.21
More from the Malaysian transport minister - this time about the safety of the route:
Some 400 commercial flights, including 150 international flights crossed eastern Ukraine daily before the crash. Officials from Eurocontrol also stated that in the two days before the incident, 75 different airlines flew the same route as MH17.
MH17’s flight path was a busy major airway, like a highway in the sky. It followed a route which was set out by the international aviation authorities, approved by Eurocontrol, and used by hundreds of other aircraft. It flew at an altitude set, and deemed safe, by the local air traffic control. And it never strayed into restricted airspace.
A map of the airspace over Ukraine after the MH17 crash shows the area being avoided by most airliners.
10.32
More from Australia, where we told you (see 09.06) that the number of Aids scientists on their way to a conference who died has - thankfully - fallen from an early estimation of 100 to six.
Jonathan Pearlman writes:
The conference organisers expressed relief that the toll was lower than expected, saying initial reports that 108 delegates died were wrong and that it had not released the figure. Local media said the figure was given during pre-conference discussions with delegates.
“We don’t know where the figure came from – it did not come out from us,” a conference spokeswoman told The Telegraph.
“We couldn’t comment as we did not know what the correct figure was. We are very relieved it is a lot less. “
10.38
The UN's International Civil Aviation Authority, based in Montreal, has rejected suggestions it should have issued a warning about flying civilian aircraft over a war zone. They say it's up to individual nations to issue warnings. A spokesman told Reuters: "It's not our job."
10.42 More images coming in from our picture desk.
This shows Ukrainian rescue workers carrying the body of a victim on a stretcher at the site of the crash.
10.44
In Kuala Lumpur, Tom Phillips is at the press conference just given by the Malaysian transport minister.
He writes:
Liow Tiong Lai, the Malaysian transport minister, looked very emotional at the press conference he's just given here in Kuala Lumpur before flying off to Kiev.
Malaysian language has clearly hardened since yesterday and he described what had happened as "an unacceptable act of agression". Those responsible should "face the full force of justice without delay".
I asked him what his message would be to those people behind what has happened. "We have to appreciate life," he said. "It is inhuame. It is very sad. We are angry."
For a few seconds he appeared to be on the verge of tears.
10.52 If you're wondering about the precise locations of the crash site and the air corridors, The New York Times has produced a series of maps.
You can see them here.
10.58
Our Moscow correspondent, Tom Parfitt, has been asking how this will affect Vladimir Putin's popularity within Russia.
He writes:
Amid the international scandal over Russia’s alleged role in the downing of Flight MH17, a new Gallup opinion poll shows that Vladimir Putin’s popularity rating has soared in the last year.
While the survey was clearly conducted before the Malaysian Airlines crash, Gallup said Mr Putin’s improved rating was “likely propelled by a groundswell of national pride with the annexation of Crimea in March”, on the heels of the Sochi Olympics in February.
The poll reports an 83 per cent approval rating of Mr Putin’s handling of his job, a 29 per cent increase on last year and the highest level since the 2008 war in Georgia. Confidence in the military is at a record high of 78 per cent.
11.02
A spokesman for Ukraine's Security Council has just said that the black boxes had not been handed over to Kiev and he had no information about them.
Andriy Lysenko told a news conference:
We have no information on the black boxes. Not one of them has been handed over to the Ukrainian side.
Reiterating Kiev's position that a ceasefire would be agreed if the rebels put down their weapons, handed over control of the border and allowed international monitors to assess the situation.
11.08
Workers from Ukraine's Emergencies Ministry have explored 18 square km out of a total 25 square km of the site where a Malaysian airliner crashed, and have found 186 bodies, its spokesman, Andriy Lysenko, said.
At 7 am on July 19, 186 bodies have been found. The area that needs to be checked stands at 25 square km. Eighteen square km have already been checked.
The fighters have allowed Emergencies Ministry workers in there, but they do not allow them to take anything from the area. The fighters are taking away all that has been found.
11.15
Reporters on the scene of the crash are tweeting about the problems facing the investigation teams.
11.23
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has confirmed that his step-grandmother was on board Flight MH17.
Siti Amirah, 83, was one of 44 Malaysians on board.
"I personally share the grief of the families on board #MH17," Mr Najib said in a Tweet. "My step-grandmother was one of the passengers."
11.32
Here is Tom Phillips' full report from this morning's press conference in Kuala Lumpur.
He notes that Malaysia is really hardening its tone on the perpetrators.
11.52
More striking images from the crash site.
11.59
Our correspondent Roland Oliphant has filed some strong footage from the MH17 plane crash scene.
Bodies and personal effects still lie among the wreckage of plane, two days after the crash.
12.15 REUTERS -
SEPARATIST LEADER IN EASTERN UKRAINE NOW SAYS BLACK BOXES OF MALAYSIAN AIRLINER HAVE NOT BEEN FOUND (!)
Borodai pictured with his bodyguards
12.28
Putin and Merkel have just spoken.
Interesing how Moscow and Berlin's version of the conversation differs.
(KREMLIN SAYS) PUTIN AND MERKEL STRESSED THE NEED FOR AN EARLY END TO HOSTILITIES IN UKRAINE'S SOUTHEAST, BEGINNING OF PEACE TALKS
MERKEL URGED RUSSIAN PRESIDENT PUTIN AGAIN IN SATURDAY'S PHONE CALL ON UKRAINE TO USE HIS INFLUENCE ON SEPARATISTS - (GERMAN GOVERNMENT)
12.33 - REUTERS:
UKRAINE'S COUNTER INTELLIGENCE CHIEF SAYS HAS "COMPELLING EVIDENCE" THAT CREW OF "THIS SYSTEM" (BUK-1 MISSILE SYSTEM) WERE RUSSIAN CITIZENS.
12.38
More on this "compelling evidence" that the crew which operated the missile system Kiev says shot down a Malaysian airliner were Russian citizens.
Vitaly Nada, the country's spy chief, told a news conference:
We have compelling evidence that this terrorist act was committed with the help of the Russian Federation. We know clearly that the crew of this system were Russian citizens.
He also called on Russia to give Ukraine the names and surnames of the crew so that Kiev could question them.
13.20
Earlier today, Tony Abbott, Australia's prime minister, was strong in his condemnation of Russia.
He said Russia could not "wash its hands of responsibility" for the Malaysia Airlines crash in Ukraine as flags flew at half-mast to honour the Australians killed.
Australia takes a very dim view of countries which facilitate the killing of Australians, as you'd expect.
The idea that Russia can wash its hands of responsibility because this happened in Ukrainian airspace just does not stand serious scrutiny.
13.21
Russia has hit back at Abbott's remarks.
This is from Russian Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson Alexander Lukashevich.
We consider the remarks of Mr Abbot to be unacceptable. We are very much surprised to hear them from the leader of a country, which has been so fond of underlying its commitment to the principle of impartial and fair justice.
13.22
And on the subject of Australia - delegates at a global Aids conference have vowed to renew efforts to end the deadly disease in honour of the commitment of colleagues killed when the plane came down.
13.38
As the hours go by, more questions are being asked as to how Putin is going to react.
Sir Christopher Meyer - Britian's former ambassador to Washington - recommends this article in The New Yorker.
In it, David Remnick writes of a recent conversation he had with Gleb Pavlovsky, a former Kremlin adviser.
“How can Putin really manage this?” Pavlovsky went on. “You’d need to be an amazing conductor. Stalin was an amazing conductor in this way. Putin can’t quite pull off this trick. The audience is warmed up and ready to go; it is wound up and waiting for more and more conflict. You can’t just say, ‘Calm down.’ It’s a dangerous moment. Today, forty per cent of Russia wants real war with Ukraine. Putin himself doesn’t want war with Ukraine. But people are responding to this media machine. Putin needs to lower the temperature.”
14.00
This remains a very rapidly-moving story.
You might find it helpful to have a look at this - our guide, constantly updated, to what we know so far.
14.24
Remember, there are conflicting reports on where the black boxes are.
Ukraine says they are concerned the rebels could have them, and they could be taken to Moscow.
This morning the separatists said they did not have them.
But Malaysia's sports and youth minister is adamant that, whoever, has them, they should be handed to Malaysia.
15.27
Philip Hammond, the new Foreign Secretary, has been speaking about the crash.
He has warned Vladimir Putin that the "world's eyes are on Russia to make sure she delivers" on her obligations to the victims killed in the Ukraine plane disaster.
We're not getting enough support from the Russians, we're not seeing Russia using their influence effectively enough to get the separatists, who are in control of the site, to allow the access that we need.
The foreign secretary said it is increasingly likely that the cause of the "terrible accident" was a missile fired from separatists in Eastern Ukraine.
Mr Hammond said the UK's priority is now to ensure the victims are treated with dignity and respect as they are recovered from the crash scene.
We still can't be categoric about the cause of this terrible accident but there's a growing body of evidence which clearly suggests a missile fired from separatists in Eastern Ukraine.
Our focus now is on securing the site so there is a proper international investigation to identify the cause and the perpetrators and bring them to justice and making sure the victims are dealt with with proper dignity and respect.
15.39 - REUTERS:
UKRAINE SECURITY COUNCIL SPOKESMAN SAYS 15 PIECES OF MILITARY EQUIPMENT WERE BROUGHT OVER THE BORDER FROM RUSSIA INTO EASTERN LUHANSK REGION OVERNIGHT.
15.41
Our picture desk have found the photos of nine of the ten Britons confirmed to have died in the crash.
Clockwise: Robert Ayley, Ben Pocock, Stephen Anderson, John Alder, Liam Sweeney, Richard Mayne, John Allen, Cameron Dalziel, Glenn Thomas.
15.44
So Ukraine has just announced (see 15.39) that 15 pieces of military equipment were tracked going to separatists from Russia into Ukraine overnight.
Tom Parfitt, our Moscow correspondent, reminded us that Ukrainian security services said yesterday that the launcher was brought from Russia...
15.49
The Malaysian Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai gave a press conference earlier today (see 10.18), in which he said that "the integrity of the site has been compromised, and there are indications that vital evidence has not been preserved in place."
16.00
We now have the full list of passengers who were on board the plane.
16.44
We're getting more details of the Kerry-Lavrov conversation.
(Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry agreed on Saturday that both countries will use their influence on the two sides of the Ukraine conflict to end hostilities, Russia's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The parties also agreed that all evidence from the downed Malaysian airplane, including flight recorders, should be made available for international investigation and that experts should be given access to work on the site.
"It was stressed that the conflict in Ukraine has no military solution and can only be resolved peacefully through the elaboration of a national consensus," the ministry said of the telephone call between Kerry and Lavrov.
The parties also agreed that all evidence from the downed Malaysian airplane, including flight recorders, should be made available for international investigation and that experts should be given access to work on the site.
"It was stressed that the conflict in Ukraine has no military solution and can only be resolved peacefully through the elaboration of a national consensus," the ministry said of the telephone call between Kerry and Lavrov.
16.50
Emerging now that David Cameron has spoken this afternoon to Mark Rutte, the Dutch prime minister.
Britain and the Netherlands agreed that the European Union will have to re-evaluate its approach to Russia due to evidence that Ukrainian separatists downed a Malaysian aircraft.
Cameron and his Dutch counterpart discussed the matter over the phone on Saturday afternoon, the office of the British Prime Minister said in a statement.
The PM and PM Rutte agreed that the EU will need to reconsider its approach to Russia in light of evidence that pro-Russian separatists brought down the plane.
Earlier, Britain's Foreign Secretary said Russia must use its influence over Ukrainian separatists to improve access to the site of the downed Malaysian aircraft, and that it had called in the country's ambassador over the disaster.
Britain and the Netherlands agreed that the European Union will have to re-evaluate its approach to Russia due to evidence that Ukrainian separatists downed a Malaysian aircraft.
Cameron and his Dutch counterpart discussed the matter over the phone on Saturday afternoon, the office of the British Prime Minister said in a statement.
The PM and PM Rutte agreed that the EU will need to reconsider its approach to Russia in light of evidence that pro-Russian separatists brought down the plane.Earlier, Britain's Foreign Secretary said Russia must use its influence over Ukrainian separatists to improve access to the site of the downed Malaysian aircraft, and that it had called in the country's ambassador over the disaster.
17.00
More from Garry Kasparov's piece on Putin and Ukraine. Bear in mind that he is unashamedly and vehemently anti-Putin.
But blaming Putin for invading Ukraine — for annexing Crimea, for giving advanced surface-to-air missiles to separatists — is like blaming the proverbial scorpion for stinging the frog. It is expected. It is his nature.
Instead of worrying about how to change the scorpion’s nature or, even worse, how best to appease it, we must focus on how the civilized world can contain the dangerous creature before more innocents die.
But blaming Putin for invading Ukraine — for annexing Crimea, for giving advanced surface-to-air missiles to separatists — is like blaming the proverbial scorpion for stinging the frog. It is expected. It is his nature.Instead of worrying about how to change the scorpion’s nature or, even worse, how best to appease it, we must focus on how the civilized world can contain the dangerous creature before more innocents die.
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