Outrage grew Saturday over the rebel hold on the site of the Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crash that killed 298 people in eastern Ukraine, with European leaders calling for Russian President Vladimir Putin to do more to use his influence to get them to hand over the site.
Days after Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashed, killing 298 people, concerns are growing that rebel fighters are blocking access to the site and tampering with evidence.
World leaders and the rebels themselves have called for a transparent, credible investigation into the downing. But two days after the disaster, there has been little progress, with the site disorderly and investigations hampered by its location in separatist-held territory amid heavy fighting in other parts of the east.
Malaysia's transport minister, Liow Tiang Lai, expressed deep concern about the security of the site and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said he was "disgusted" by images showing rebels walking around with victims' personal items.
Comment: Oh puleeze. This is just whipping up the emotions of the Dutch and scoring political points by Rutte. How else is the site to be cleaned up??
"Mr. Putin must now take his responsibility," Mr. Rutte said, adding he had an intense conversation with the Russian leader by phone. "It's time for him to do what the world is expecting him to do."
Comment: Russia is doing the responsible thing: telling the world to wait for a proper analysis of the situation. They is also raising pertinent issues that the Ukraine and US governments should be addressing:
10 questions the Russians have for Ukraine after crash of MH17
One hundred and ninety-three Dutch citizens died on the Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur flight, which the U.S. says was likely downed by a missile fired by Russian-aided separatists. New U.S. intelligence assessments indicate that Moscow likely provided separatists in eastern Ukraine with sophisticated antiaircraft systems in recent days, matching evidence put forward by Ukraine.
Comment: Of course they do. This is the narrative that gives NATO justification for attempting to light the Russian border on fire.
'Fun' fact: The Buk missile is noted for its heavy exhaust trail when launched. Not one witness has mentioned seeing this nor has any alleged video of the event shown a smoke trail going from ground to sky. One of many pesky details of this tragic event.