United Nations Security Council members have condemned Thursday's downing of the Malaysian passenger plane.The 15-member council unanimously voted to adopt an Australian drafted resolution demanding that armed groups allow "safe secure full and and unrestricted access" to the crash site in Ukraine.
"It is despicable that this access is not being provided. It is an affront to the victims and their families. All states, armed groups, everyone must cooperate with the investigation," said Australia's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop.
Russia agreed after insisting references to the shooting down of the jet were removed but had to accept mention of to armed groups in the text.
While Russia's UN representative Vitaly Churkin said his country was ready to provide any assistance in the conducting of an impartial international investigation, the US made it clear Moscow should have acted sooner.
"We welcome Russia's support for today's resolution," said US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power. "But no resolution would have been necessary had Russia used its leverage with the separatists on Thursday, getting them to lay down their arms and leave the site to international experts."
Russia continues to challenge accusations that pro-Russian separatists were responsible for shooting down the airliner and claims Ukrainian war planes had flown close to the jet.
Source: EuroNews
Photo source: Voanews
