An international team of observers have been given access to the Malaysia Airlines crash site in Ukraine, but their access currently appears to be heavily limited by the pro-Russian forces in the area. Meanwhile a pro-Russian "investigative brigade" has reportedly been removing bodies from the crash site.
Latest reports from Reuters claim monitors from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OCSE) have been given access to one section of the crash site and granted permission to speak with local people.
The Ukrainian Government claims what it calls "terrorists supported by Russia" are trying to destroy evidence at the scene. It has also accused rebels of taking 38 bodies to a mortuary to carry out their own post-mortem examinations.
“The Ukrainian government officially announces: terrorists with the support of Russia are trying to destroy proof of this international crime,” the Ukrainian government said in a statement.
The Guardian reports that pro-Russian rebels in the area insists his men had not interfered with the crash site, but retained the right to remove the bodies to prevent decomposition.
Aleksander Borodai said a press conference: "Bodies of innocent people are lying out in the heat. We reserve the right, if the delay continues...to begin the process of taking away the bodies. We ask the Russian Federation to help us with this problem and send their experts."
Reports from the site this morning tell of the removal of bodies from the site by what the pro-Russian separatist group has called an “investigative brigade”. Buzzfeed reporter Max Seddon is on the scene and tells of the sequence of events this morning.
Rebels denying access to #MH17 crash site until "investigative brigade" finishes work. Won't say where the bodies are being taken.
— max seddon (@maxseddon) July 19, 2014
OSCE team arrives at #MH17 site. Rebels say they won't let them through and block off site. OSCE makes to leave, then rebels change minds.
— max seddon (@maxseddon) July 19, 2014
Basically, the OSCE are only allowed 30m further than they were yesterday. Grumpy won't let them onto the field where debris and bodies are.
— max seddon (@maxseddon) July 19, 2014
These guys are "experts" from local police. Not seen any hint of actual aviation experts here. #MH17 pic.twitter.com/cwRvV1N9IH
— max seddon (@maxseddon) July 19, 2014
No sign of black boxes. No sign of missile debris. No sign of aviation or military experts. No idea where the bodies are going. #MH17
— max seddon (@maxseddon) July 19, 2014
Editor of The Kyiv Post, Christopher Miller, is also on the scene:
So these masked men just showed up at crash site in an emergency services vehicle from Khartsyzk. pic.twitter.com/n4zEhtlnKg
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) July 19, 2014
GRAPHIC IMAGE. Local emergency worker at flight #MH17 crash site says 65 bodies taken from here, but won't say where. pic.twitter.com/s1EjsCQCuD
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) July 19, 2014
OSCE team stopped 100 meters from site. DNR guys flicked safeties off on AKs and brought out heavier machine guns. OSCE teams back in cars.
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) July 19, 2014
BBC reporter Fergal Keane is also at the scene and has commented on the confusion surrounding events there at the moment.
#MH17 OSCE told to proceed on foot but stop at militia r/block at site
— Fergal Keane (@fergalkeane47) July 19, 2014
#MH17 OSCE say conditions set yday have not been met. Have returned to cars.
— Fergal Keane (@fergalkeane47) July 19, 2014
#MH17 OSCE now going in on foot. Have been told to stay out of fields because of work by emerg services
— Fergal Keane (@fergalkeane47) July 19, 2014
#MH17 OSCE chief here stressing they've been given permission for full inspection.
— Fergal Keane (@fergalkeane47) July 19, 2014
#MH17 rebels clearly not interested in making things smooth for OSCE -
— Fergal Keane (@fergalkeane47) July 19, 2014
Britain and the US say Pro-Russian separatists shot down the aircraft with a missile on Thursday - killing all 298 people on board.
Meanwhile, Malaysian officials insist the plane was on a 'busy flightpath' and never strayed into restricted airspace.
In a press conference this morning, Malaysia's Transport Minister called on the United Nations to assist with a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine - so as to allow international investigators to access the crash site:
“If they do not allow us to go to the site I think this is inhumane. We are looking at it on humanitarian grounds. That’s why we are calling on the United Nations to assist the ceasefire. We are asking the Ukraine authorities to ensure a safe corridor to the site and t his must be done immediately. “
