Kedahan: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17: Plane with 298 on board shot down in Ukraine

Friday, July 18, 2014

Malaysia Airlines Flight 17: Plane with 298 on board shot down in Ukraine

Australia says “Russian-backed rebels” downed Malaysian plane in Ukraine

Published: 18 July 2014

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said today it appeared that "Russian-backed rebels" were behind the shooting down of a Malaysia Airlines passenger jetliner over eastern Ukraine that killed all 298 people on board.
Ukraine's state security chief has accused Russian military intelligence officers of involvement with pro-Russian rebels in the downing of the airliner yesterday, but Western leaders have until now been less quick to assign blame.
Abbott blamed anti-Kiev separatists for shooting down the plane during a sombre speech before parliament in which he confirmed that 27 Australian citizens had died in the crash.

"This is a grim day for our country and it's a grim day for our world. Malaysian airlines MH17 has been shot down over the eastern Ukraine, it seems by Russian-backed rebels," he said. – Reuters, July 18, 2014.