this is the year when it takes two tons of steel to make one barrel. you know here of the bottles and. that's were. we chilled ourselves. breaking news from malaysia airlines say ukrainian air traffic controllers told their ill fated plane to fly lower than the planned altitude before the jet crashed killing all passengers and crew. and grief stricken relatives struggle to come to terms with the tragedy in which the majority of victims were dutch nationals. the russian defense ministry says it has been tracking signals from the ukrainian army's radars and found that they were in use and in range of the plane at the time of the crash.

neil harvey and you're watching international. new information has come to light in the tragedy involving a malaysian airlines plane that went down in ukraine killing all two hundred ninety eight people on board the air carrier says that before the disaster the plane had dropped to a lower than planned altitude following a request from ukrainian flight controllers the teams are still combing through the wreckage searching for bodies and clues as to the causes of the crash we should warn you that there are some graphic images coming up. so far around half of the bodies have been retrieved from the widely scattered debris and government forces who control the area have denied earlier reports that they have found the flight recorders but they do insist that when they do they will hand them over to

international investigators we managed to speak to a local woman living right next to the crash site. uses a little i heard terrible noise i went out first and then my has been well the woman fell to the ground right after i ran out i first my husband thought it was me . i was in shock i couldn't go further than my you aren't. so let's take a closer look at the route that flight m.h. seventeen was taking well it took off in amsterdam on a long haul journey to kuala lumpur the boeing seven seven seven was flying over eastern ukraine the zone of an ongoing conflict between ukrainian army and local militia groups and the plane disappeared from radar shortly before it was due to enter russian airspace. and here's a list of the nationalities of those on board the ill fated aircraft the majority of the passengers one hundred eighty nine would search forty four victims including

all the crew members were malaysian there were twenty seven australians travelling on the airliner also among the victims citizens of britain germany the philippines and canada. these are pictures from kuala lumpur international airport the flight's destination families of the passengers and crew gathered to find out what had happened to their loved ones lashed out at the carrier demanding it release the passenger manifest it's also a time of grieving in the nerves of the from where the plane took off reports now from amsterdam in majority of the passengers on that flight were nationals and that flight took off from here where i am an ounce to dance people airport before it crashed in ukraine devastated passengers relatives trying to change

information about what had happened to their loved ones and grief and the shock coming to terms with their losses it was just unbelievable we know that malaysian airlines have sent out a care team here to amsterdam to help passengers cope with their losses but we also know that a number of the passengers were headed to melbourne for an international aid conference. prominent hiv research show was on the plane with his wife heading for a global aids conference and he was one of dozens of delegates thoughts have been traveling there lying as friends the president of the anti aids foundation shared his feelings of the loss i feel stunned it's very unreal you know i think the moment i will see something more tangible it were his but it's you know i talk to them yesterday morning before they boarded the plane circling were saying that she

was very much looking forward to going to the eight conference in melbourne and then she even sent me a text message on the plane in malaysia airlines saying that they had just given down the menu card even before takeoff and that she was already looking forward to eating the nice asian food ok these are live pictures from new york this is where the u.n. security council is about to start its emergency meeting on the crash of the malaysian plane in ukraine the bodies calling for fall an independent investigation into the tragedy and we will be bringing you coverage from there i'm sure once proceedings to get underway. the first r.t. spanish correspondent francisco man east to get to the scene of the disaster within just hours of it happening some viewers may find the images in his report

disturbing. in twelve kilometers around here there is still this is of the bodies there are also this is off aircraft and a lot of details of their lives of these almost three hundred people right now the local government of the don't ask is saying that they agree to make a cease fire for some days that they can do an investigation and here they can come they said they always see and also the international civil aviation organization the situation in this moment is that in or around some kilometers we have heard some grad rockets this means that the combat is still going on russia's defense ministry says it has tracked the activity of the ukrainian military to the radars on the day of the crash it says an exchange took place between military officials concerning air targets earlier ukrainian security sources released what

they claimed was a leaked phone conversation between local militia members discussing how they had mistakenly shot down a civilian aircraft president poroshenko says the rebels down the plane with a rocket but the anti-government fighters say they have no weapons capable of this and are blaming the ukrainian forces. ok looks the proceedings in new york at this emergency session of the u.n. security council are getting underway let's have a listen and the security council to express deep sympathy and condolences to the families of those who lost their lives or. loans from its image seventeen on soon to be fourteen and also to the people and governments of those countries who lost citizens in the. ask.

that all those present stand and join in observing a minute of silence in the memory of those who lost their lives.

you know accordance with rule thirty seven of the council's provisional rules of procedure i invite other presenter teves off belgium indonesia malaysia the netherlands the philippines and ukraine to participate in this meeting it is so decided. in accordance with rule thirty nine of the council's provisional rules of procedure i invite mr jeffrey feltman undersecretary general for political or fees to participate in this meeting it is so decided. the security council will now begin its cosa duration of time two of the agenda

and i'll give the floor to mr jeffrey feltman so you have the full. mr president distinguished members of the council as we face a rapidly deteriorating crisis in ukraine that bears consequences far beyond the country's borders we deeply regret that the glimpse of hope that followed the announcement president poroshenko peace plan including the euro erroll cease fire and peace talks with the armed groups as quickly dissipated in my briefing to you today i will focus on developments in eastern ukraine. as well as on the international efforts toward a peaceful resolution first the situation in eastern ukraine well the un has at this point no independent verification of the circumstances regarding the tragic crash yesterday of a malaysian airlines passenger plane the secretary general is alarmed at what

seemed to be credible numerous reports that suggest that a sophisticated surface to air missile was used the secretary general strongly condemns this apparent deliberate downing of a civilian aircraft this horrifying incident serves as the starkest reminder of how dire the situation in eastern ukraine has become and how it affects countries and families well beyond ukraine's borders. nearly three hundred innocent people from many countries some of whom are represented by members of this council were killed the casualties include a professional staff member of the world health organization and i was shocked to learn just now that nearly two thirds of the victims come from the netherlands and that there were eighty children on board that flight we convey our deepest

condolences to the families and friends of the victims. the secretary general stated yesterday that there is clearly a need for a full and transparent international investigation. united nations is fully ready to cooperate we have been in touch yesterday and today with a k o n i k o has offered ukraine officials its investigative capacity in order to put together an international team ok when ukrainian officials are speaking today and the secretary general is scheduled to speak with ukrainian president poroshenko tomorrow. following the thirty june announcement by president poroshenko of the end of the ten day cease fire and subsequent resumption of the security and law enforcement operation in the eastern parts of the country the fighting between government forces and armed groups has intensified dangerously resulting in

numerous deaths. according to the ukrainian authorities a number of towns including notably the cities of slovyansk and kramatorsk as well as various smaller villages in the donetsk and lugansk regions have been returned to their control however relentless fighting has continued particularly in and around the cities of lugansk in donetsk where the armed groups appear to have consolidated their presence earlier this week a fierce battle was also fought over the international airport in lugansk but now it appears under the ukrainian government's control the situation on and around the border between ukraine and the russian federation is a particular concern well it is impossible for the united nations to independently verify these accounts in recent days

a number of fatal incidents as well as intense fighting have been reported on thirteen july the ministry of foreign affairs of the russian federation issued a statement knowing that one russian national died and two were seriously injured when a ukrainian army shell hit a residential house ukraine has rejected this claim in the same statement the ministry also warned that tensions in the area of the russian ukrainian border have dangerously escalated and may have irreversible consequences for which ukraine will help be held responsible according to ukrainian authorities the country's border guard units have reportedly come under continuous attack with rockets and mortars by armed groups. there are also reports that several ukrainian military aircraft have been shot down over the past weeks most recently on sixteen july as the secretary general has reiterated on countless occasions armed groups need to disarm

immediately and stop in gauging and unlawful and violent acts at the same time we continue to urge strongly the ukrainian authorities to act with maximum restraint and to make every effort possible to ensure the protection of civilians caught in the fighting estimations of the total number of civilian casualties vary but according to the office of the high commissioner for human rights there have been approximately five hundred casualties so far in fortune hundred injured furthermore u.n.h.c.r. estimates that the crisis has displaced some tens of thousands of people as of eleven july grievances can and must never justify endangering the lives of of those one claims and aims to represent and protect mr president

distinguished members of the council the secretary general welcomes the intensive diplomatic efforts undertaken by many members of this council and others in recent weeks with a view to deescalate the crisis the second july joint berlin declaration agreed upon by the foreign ministers of the russian federation germany france and ukraine similar to the seventeen april geneva statement provides a clear and constructive way forward as a declaration underlines there's an urgent need for sustainable cease fire in eastern ukraine to be agreed and fully observed by all concerned as well as to secure and effectively control the russian ukrainian border as the fighting continues however we are disconcerted by the apparent lack of tangible progress toward a political solution. a first critical step would be the immediate resumption of

a cease fire the secretary general calls on the international community to come together in support of ukraine in accordance with the principles of the un charter and to preserve peace and security for the broader region we will continue to do our part the secretary general is in close contact with world leaders and has asked me to return to kiev and moscow in the coming days in the spirit of his good offices establishing a path to peace in ukraine as in areas of conflict elsewhere in the world requires a concerted effort by national actors from across the political spectrum backed by strong and unified support of the international community while the security political economic social and human rights issues in ukraine that should be addressed are indeed complicated we hope that the shock of the downing of a civilian passenger jet yesterday will prompt

a serious and sustained effort to end the fighting and concentrate positively on ukraine's future so president thank you. mr welch moment for his briefing give defer to members of the security council i gave the food to the president to tip of the united kingdom. mr president we meet today in the most tragic of circumstances yesterday malaysia airlines passenger plane m.h. seventeen appears to be in shutdown of eastern ukraine killing all passengers and crew our deepest most heartfelt condolences go to the families of the victims and to the people and governments of those countries affected. in the united kingdom we are mourning the loss of a least nine with his citizens who were passengers on this flight. this is a dark moment for the international community. the senseless violence unleashed by

armed separatists in eastern ukraine has reached monstrous proportions mr president the precise circumstances and causes of this tragic event must be established quickly and beyond any doubt as the council has affirmed this morning this will require a full and independent international investigation in accordance with international civil aviation guidelines the international civil aviation organization which provides the international legal framework for the investigation of accidents should have a central role ensuring that there is credible and independent is international involvement we welcome the indications from the ukrainian authorities that they want international investigators to join their efforts the united kingdom will provide whatever assistance is necessary to support this investigation the

immediate priority has to be for investigators to gain access to the crash site so they can start their work they must be able to operate unhindered and in secure security there must be no interference or tampering with the evidence armed separatists groups in the vicinity must allow such access despite assurances that were made yesterday evening we understand that this is not yet happened. we call on russia to use its influence with these groups to ensure that this happens the o. s. e special monitoring mission already present in eastern ukraine can play a key role in facilitating and safeguarding this access was the president early indications are that malaysia airlines flight and eight seventeen was brought down by a surface to air missile and make seventeen is not the first aircraft that has been

brought down in this area. on fourteen june armed separatists claimed responsibility for indeed gloated publicly over the shooting down of the ukrainian isles seventy six transport aircraft with the loss of all forty nine on board on fourteen july and separatist shut down an n twenty six transport aircraft with a surface to air missile and on sixteen july ukrainian sukhoi twenty five jet was shot down in circumstances would have yet to be fully clarified mr president we have to ask searching questions about why we are now confronting this tragic situation russian officials have claimed that arms separatists in eastern ukraine represent a spontaneous local insurgency we know that that is not the case we know that the

three leading figures of the so-called donetsk people's republic are russian citizens and have come from outside ukraine we know that weapons a quick moment and logistical support has been systematically provided to armed separatists groups by russia including up to one hundred manpads fifteen to twenty five main battle tanks not to mention artillery pieces work at launchers and other armored vehicles for the united kingdom urges russia to reflect carefully on the situation they have created we urge russia to cease its policy of supporting armed separatists groups and their violent actions of destabilizing a neighboring country of generating displacement and social and economic hardship let us hear today clear and unequivocal condemnation from russia of the actions of these armed groups these armed groups do not represent the people of ukraine

without russian support they would wither. mr president it is the council's responsibility to respond to such tragedies by drawing the right lessons and working together with commitment and conviction to prevent their repetition it is clear where responsibility lies with the senseless violence of armed separatists and with those who have supported a quipped and advised them the council must be united in condemning these actions and in demanding that these groups disarm desist from violence and intimidation and engage in dialogue through the democratic mechanisms that are available to them they have been given the opportunities to do so most recently through president poroshenko as peace plan these opportunities have all been spurned in the press statement agreed earlier today the members of the security council expressed their

condolences and called for an international investigation and appropriate accountability this is welcome but it is not enough the council must go further it should come together behind a clear demand that the armed separatists groups should lay down their arms and pursue whatever political legitimate objectives they may have through exclusively peaceful and democratic means that the flow of arms fighters and logistical support to the on separatists is fully halted and the borders secured in the light of yesterday's tragedy any other course of action would be unconscionable thank you. i think the representative of the united kingdom for his third given all the flow to the present or to. see mr ripley though. you will remember. jeffrey feltman secretary general for a separate us you should read here is even more tragic

a new grand. luke judd to explain. it but it isn't. all for me to do so i've got the. victim do the logan dealing with. airline sit do in a manner that isaac effect ok so the meeting in new york continues of the emergency session of the u.n. security council and we heard of course from the undersecretary there saying that the sec in general will be meeting with president petro poroshenko of ukraine tomorrow. the. next u.s. intelligence officials claim that the plane was downed by a surface to air missile but have not specifically blamed either side vice president joe biden said that a team of specialists will be sent to assist ukrainian authorities with the

investigation going to change account is in washington following the american reaction. u.s. officials believe it was a surface to air missile that shot down the malaysian plane over ukraine the u.s. is not pointing the blame thing or just yet president obama spoke with the ukrainian leader shameka we can be sure that the blame game in the coming days and weeks is going to be vicious there are questions as to who had the capability to do this the ukrainian military certainly has the capability a launch like that would require a team of specialists as we hear from many experts and there is another question why was this malaysian airliner flying over the conflict zone we know that u.s. airlines had been avoiding the area for some time to size me because it was deemed unsafe what kind of instructions that this plane would see from the ukrainian air traffic control or what exactly was happening inside the cockpit just moments before the tragedy hopefully we'll get more answers when investigators get hold of the black box of course one of the main questions at this point is who is going to

investigate this the u.n. secretary general spoke out calling for an international investigation one of the concerns moving forward is that the investigation could eventually be politicized the blame game is full on in the media even before any facts have been established . the plane tracking service flight radar twenty four suggests that the action deviated from its usual route it went much further north than the other is passing over ukraine flying directly over the combat zone it's unclear why it took about half and this isn't the only unusual circumstance surrounding the disaster from a pilot an air traffic controller desmond ross told us there are some gray areas being presented about the story. the first one is the cockpit voice recorder which records the last two hours of all communications and all conversations in the cockpit so that that two hours leading up to the final moments should give us a fairly good indication of what was going on and that may even tell us that knew

nothing about it whatsoever that it just happened frankly there's a couple of things that i can't really but curious about the images that i've been seeing on television when the aircraft was hit and it would have to be pressurized more or less and mediately if there was a large hole blown a fuse a large or a compact that fuse like scope and a sudden decompression of that nature would have been quite calamitous for people who had very few seconds of consciousness and before they passed out and they would have fallen obviously great distance to the ground and so interesting is that they might be quite intact one would expect that might be showing some signs of damage you know the other thing that i found really interesting it is the collection of our sports that are being shown on television which will appear to be very train and almost brand new. and they've been collected obviously very quickly you know or from pockets of should cases perhaps so there are some interesting aspects to the whole thing we were going to come i.o.c. investigation is conducted professionally and probably. meanwhile major air

carriers of announce that they are diverting their planes around eastern ukrainian airspace among them france scale and lift its transport agency euro control has advised all e.u. carriers to avoid the area following the tragedy e.u. leaders have been expressing their condolences to those affected peter oliver reports now from berlin. heard from german chancellor angela merkel she was given a press conference in which she said there needs to be a full investigation into exactly what caused this disaster she said that germany was willing to send a team to ukraine to help with that investigation to get to the bottom of exactly what happened and she said that those that are responsible must be brought to justice it also expressed extreme crieff and condolences for the families of the those that.