What happened, who did it and what world leaders are saying about flight MH17, downed in Ukraine.
What happened?
Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, a Boeing 777 with 295 passengers aboard, was shot down over eastern Ukraine on Thursday afternoon. Everyone aboard is believed to have been killed, with bodies and debris scattered over a miles-wide crash site. US intelligence believes the airliner was brought down with a surface-to-air missile but isn’t yet clear where the missile came from.
Who did it?
The Ukrainian government has laid the blame firmly on Moscow and the armed pro-Russian separatists who have declared breakaway republics in eastern Ukraine. Ukraine’s security service released intercepted phone calls that it says show Russian military intelligence admitting they shot down the plane.
Vladimir Putin says Ukraine “bears responsibility for this awful tragedy” but did not specifically say who fired the missile.
What are world leaders saying?
Barack Obama: “Obviously the world is watching reports of a downed passenger jet near the Russia-Ukraine border, and it looks like it may be a terrible tragedy. Right now we’re working to determine whether there were American citizens on board. That is our first priority. And I’ve directed my national security team to stay in close contact with the Ukrainian government. The United States will offer any assistance we can to help determine what happened and why, and as a country our thoughts and prayers are with all the families of the passengers wherever they call home.”
Joe Biden: “An aircraft – a Malaysian aircraft heading from Western Europe to Kuala Lumpur, as it crossed or was near the border of Ukraine and Russia, apparently – I say apparently because I don’t have the actual – we don’t have all the detail yet; I want to be sure of what I say – apparently have been shot down – shot down, not an accident, blown out of the sky.”
Vladimir Putin: “I want to note that this tragedy would not have happened if there were peace on this land, if the military actions had not been renewed in southeast Ukraine. And, certainly, the state over whose territory this occurred bears responsibility for this awful tragedy.”
David Cameron: “I’m shocked and saddened by the Malaysian air disaster.”
Najib Razak, Malaysian prime minister: “The Ukrainian authorities believe that the plane was shot down. At this stage, however, Malaysia is unable to verify the cause of this tragedy. But we must, and we will, find out precisely what happened to this flight. No stone will be left unturned. If it conspires that the plane was indeed shot down, we insist that the perpetrators must swiftly be brought to justice.”
John McCain: “If it is the result of either separatist or Russian actions mistakenly believing this was a Ukrainian war plane, I think there’s going to be hell to pay and there should be.”
Hillary Clinton: “The Europeans have to be the ones that take the lead on this. It was a flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur over European territory – there should be outrage in European capitals.”
Read more:
The Telegraph
Categories: Netherlands
The blame game “who shot the MH17” is getting hotter and hotter, can anyone shed light on difference between USA and Europe supplying arms and financial aid to Rebels in Syria to bring down Asad Government and Russia backing the Rebels or the Separatists in Ukraine? America created first Alqaeda in Afghanistan and now the ISIS in Iraq, which is the same outfit of Rebels from Syria equipped with American arms. Russia is aiding and abetting the Separatists in Ukraine. If the big powers deal with any “crisis” in the World with equality and above all with justice, there would not be any problems. That is what the Head of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has been advocating for some time now. There is still time to amend the wrong doings by applying justice. Lets start from Gaza, stop Israel from its brutal and inhumane treatment meted out to the Palestinians. There are parallels here too, Israel encouraged Hamas if not created in the thirties to undermine the pre PLO Palestinian Authority. Hamas is now like Alqaeda. Here is a lesson to learn, not to support or to create outfits for a short term benefit, these do become out of control and grow into like they are today. I plead again to the World Powers to be JUST and then see the results.