196 bodies found at jet crash site

KIEV, Sunday

Emergency workers in Ukraine say they have now found 196 bodies at the crash site of the Malaysian airliner MH17.

Most of these bodies have been loaded into refrigerated rail wagons in the nearby rebel-held town of Torez, but it is unclear who has access to them.

A total of 298 people were on MH17 when it was reportedly hit by a missile on Thursday. All are thought to have died.

Western countries have criticised the pro-Russian rebels in the area for restricting access to the crash site.

The BBC’s Fergal Keane, at the site, said the indiscipline and chaos of the last two days had been replaced by the robust presence of former riot policemen who now form a cordon around the central area of the aircraft wreckage.

Accused each other

Ukraine’s government and the rebels have accused each other of shooting down the Boeing 777, which was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.
The US State Department said there had been multiple reports of bodies and aircraft parts being removed, and potential evidence tampered with.

Ukraine’s Security Council spokesman Andriy Lysenko said the pro-Russian rebels are “not telling where they are taking” them.

“This is a big problem,” he said, adding that the rebels “are doing all they can to hide evidence that a Russian missile was involved.”

The passenger list released by Malaysia Airlines shows the plane was carrying 193 Dutch nationals (including one with dual US nationality), 43 Malaysians (including 15 crew), 27 Australians, 12 Indonesians and 10 Britons (including one with dual South African nationality), four Germans, four Belgians, three from the Philippines, and one each from Canada and New Zealand.

Memorial services have been held in Australia, with more planned in other countries later today. (BBC)