Malaysia will leave "no stones unturned" in its quest for justice in the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, the nation's defence minister said on Friday.

Hishammuddin Hussein was addressing journalists at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang after returning from Ukraine.

Flight MH17 went down on July 17 over Ukrainian territory held by pro-Russian rebels, killing all 298 passengers and crew on board.

Hishammudin Hussein, who also visited Russia and the Netherlands during the trip, said that Russia had said they will continue working with Malaysian authorities and had given a commitment that "they too want to find the truth".

He stressed Malaysia's own commitment to bringing back the remains of passengers of the plane that were still in the region

Meanwhile on Friday, the chief Dutch prosecutor overseeing the criminal investigation into the downing of the jet said the possibility that Flight 17 was shot down from the ground is the "most likely" scenario.

A separate Dutch air crash investigation concluded this week that the plane was hit from the outside by numerous high-energy objects, but stopped short of calling it a missile strike.

AP TELEVISION

1. Wide of Malaysian Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein arriving at news conference, zoom in

2. Mid of photographers

3. Wide of news conference

4. SOUNDBITE: (English) Hishammuddin Hussein, Malaysian Defence Minister:

"I must say that the Russians have indicated to me that they are working closely with us and they will continue to do that. They've given us, given me a commitment that they too want to find the truth."

5. Mid of reporters writing

6. Mid of cameramen

7. Pan from media to Hussein

8. SOUNDBITE: (English) Hishammuddin Hussein, Malaysian Defence Minister:

"No stones unturned when it comes to finding justice for MH17, to bring back the remains of the remaining passengers that are still there, not only from Malaysia but from the other nations also."

9. Mid of reporters writing

10. Close of cameraman

11. Mid of reporter

12. Hishammuddin Hussein exiting

The Malaysian government gave an update on Thursday on the search for missing Malaysian Airlines flight 370 and efforts to find those responsible for the shooting down of flight MH17 over Ukraine in July.

Defence Minister, Hishammuddin Hussein, said Malaysia would continue to "work closely with Australia and the Netherlands" in order to re-enter the crash site for flight MH17 before the onset of winter.

The plane went down on July 17 over Ukrainian territory held by pro-Russian rebels, killing all 298 passengers and crew on board.

Regarding flight 370, Hussein announced he is to hold further talks with China regarding the ongoing search for the aircraft in the southern Indian Ocean.

The flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing disappeared in March with 239 people on board.

The Defence Minister also commented on reports of alleged Islamic State (IS) activity in Malaysia.

Hussein was asked whether he had heard of any reports linking the BIFF (Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters) and the militant group Abu Sayyaf with Islamic State militants.

Both the BIFF and Abu Sayyaf are based in the southern Philippines near the coast of Sabah in eastern Malaysia.

Hussein told reporters he was not aware of these allegations, but any such reports would be studied very carefully.

AP TELEVISION

1. Malaysian Defence Minister, Hishammuddin Hussein, with reporters at news conference

2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Hishammuddin Hussein, Malaysian Defence Minister:

"We will continue to work closely with Australia and the Netherlands through the Combined Joint International Task Force (CIJTF) and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and other relevant authorities to re-enter the crash site before the onset of winter."

3. Photographer

4. Reporter taking notes

5. Media at news conference

6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Hishammuddin Hussein, Malaysian Defence Minister:

"I will hold further discussions with China next week with regards to the deployment of assets for the MH370 search operation involving two Chinese ships that was involved in the first phase of the search which is the Zhukezhen and the Hai Xhun."

7. Cameraman

8. Wide of news conference

9. SOUNDBITE: (English) Hishammuddin Hussein, Malaysian Defence Minister:

"I'm not aware of that report, but of course a report that involves ISIS (Islamic State group) will be studied by us very carefully, especially in the context of Sabah (Malaysian state on island of Borneo) and the context of BIFF (Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters) and Abu Sayyaf (militant group) recognising and supporting ISIS."

10. Various of reporters taking notes

11. Hishammudin leaving presser

A Malaysian official said on Thursday his country was still focused on the retrieval of any remains from the crash site of flight MH17 in eastern Ukraine.

Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein made his comment following a special meeting in Kuala Lumpur where a number of ministers, including Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai discussed the repatriation of the Malaysian dead from the tragedy.

At the news conference afterwards, Tiong Lai also said a preliminary report on the incident should be ready by next week.

Flight 17 was shot down in Eastern Ukraine on July 17, killing all 298 on board.

44 were Malaysian citizens.

AP TELEVISION

1. Press gathered for news conference

2. Officials standing at podium for news conference

3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Hishammuddin Hussein, Malaysian Minister of Defence:

"Our focus is to bring back if they are anymore remains in an area that is very large. We are monitoring the situation very closely. The Ukrainian forces are entering Donetsk as we speak. We will have to work very closely with the intelligence on all sides."

4. Photographers taking photos of officials

5. Various Hishammuddin and Malaysian Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai at meeting

6 Cameraman

7. Officials at podium

8. SOUNDBITE: (English) Liow Tiong Lai, Malaysian Transport Minister:

"So all preliminary data should be able to be ready by next week. I will hope that the preliminary report will be able to reveal the preliminary study hopefully by next week."

9. Journalists on phones

10. End of news conference

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 2036486

A convoy of eight trucks carrying wreckage from the Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 disaster has arrived at a Dutch military base, as the official investigation into the cause of the plane's destruction continues.

Flight MH17 was shot down on July 17 over territory held by pro-Russia separatists in eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 passengers and crew - most of them Dutch.

The Dutch-led international team investigating the disaster initially had difficulty accessing the disaster site due to clashes between rival forces.

The remains of six victims have yet to be found.

Now that the wreckage is at the Gilze-Rijen military base in the south of the Netherlands, investigators will photograph, scan and categorise the wreckage. They plan later to reassemble part of the Boeing 777 in a hangar, a procedure described by Tjibbe Joustra, Chairman of the Dutch safety board, as "laborious".

A final report on the downing of the jet is hoped to be ready by the middle of next year.

AP TELEVISION

Glize-Rijen, 9 December 2014

1. Close of police escort and trucks carrying the MH17 wreckage

2. Close of cameramen

3. Pan of trucks going into the military base

4. Close of people watching the trucks passing by

5. Wide pan of trucks coming into the base

6. Military guards watching the convoy as it is getting into the bas

7. People watching

8. Zoom out of trucks in the base with military guards in foreground

9. People watching

10. Military guards closing the base's gate

The Russian Defence Ministry on Monday showed photos they said proved that Ukrainian surface-to-air systems were operating in the area at the time when the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crashed in eastern Ukraine.

Russian officials also said they had evidence that a Ukrainian Sukhoi Su-25 fighter jet had flown "between 3 to 5 kilometres (2 to 3 miles)" from the Malaysia Airlines jet.

"(The plane) is armed with air-to-air R-60 rockets, which can hit a target from a distance of up to 12 kilometres (7 miles) and guaranteed within 5 kilometres (3 miles)," said the chief of Russia's General staff, Andrei Kartopolov.

The defence ministry officials insisted that Russia had not given the rebels any surface-to-air missiles and added they have no evidence that any missiles were launched at all.

The Russian officials also asked the United States to share any satellite images of the launch.

AP TELEVISION

1. Wide of news briefing at Russian Defence Ministry headquarters

2. Mid of Lieutenant-General Andrei Kartopolov, head of the main operations department of the Russian Army General Staff, speaking

3. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Andrei Kartopolov, Head of the main operations department, Russian Army General Staff :

++OVERLAID WITH CUTAWAY ZOOM IN TO GRAPHICS ILLUSTRATING HIS STATEMENT++

"The Russian air situation control registered the climb of the aircraft belonging to the Ukrainian air forces, supposedly SU-25, toward the Malaysian Boeing (Malaysia Airlines flight MH17)."

4. Wide of news briefing

5. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Andrei Kartopolov, Head of the main operations department, Russian Army General Staff :

++OVERLAID WITH CUTAWAY OF GRAPHICS ++

"The SU-25 (Ukrainian) aircraft was flying three to five kilometres away from the Boeing (Malaysia Airlines flight MH17)."

6. Mid of news briefing

7. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Andrei Kartopolov, Head of the main operations department, Russian Army General Staff :

++OVERLAID WITH CLOSE UP OF GRAPHICS++

"It (the Ukrainian plane) is armed with air-to-air R-60 rockets, which can hit a target from a distance of up to 12 kilometres (7 miles) and it can definitely hit within 5 kilometres (3 miles)."

8. Wide of news briefing

9. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Igor Pakushev, Chief of Air Force, Russia's General Staff:

++OVERLAID WITH GRAPHICS ++

++THIS SOUNDBITE IS INTERLACED BY SOUND OF TRANSLATOR INTERPRETING IN ENGLISH++

"At 17:21:35 pm, at the place where the Boeing (airplane) was falling apart, a new mark showing a new object appeared. This air object was observed steadily by the radio-location posts "Ust-Donetsk" and "Buturinskaya" for four minutes. The air-controller requesting the characteristics of the newly-appeared object could not get data of its parameters because most likely an aircraft of the second type of identification system was not equipped like military crafts usually do."

10. Wide as conference ends

International observers said on Sunday that 169 bodies of those killed in the Malaysian Airline MH17 crash in eastern Ukraine have been removed from the crash site and loaded into refrigerated trains nearby.

Michael Bociurkiw, the spokesman of the Organisation of Security and Corporation (OSCE) mission to Ukraine, the organisation in charge of investigating the crash, said the train cars were expected to be taken to Ukrainian - controlled territories such as Kharkiv, where they could be processed.

"Today was quite a significant development in the sense that we were able to, under very good security, visit the village of Torez, near the crash site. There, we went to the railway station and at the railway station there were several cars, three or four which were refrigerated. We were told these cars hold victims of the MH17 crash," he told reporters gathered in Kiev, by phone.

According to Bociurkiw, the body bags had been numbered by pro-Russian rebels, who told him they loaded 169 bodies into the train.

The OSCE team, however, did not enter the train cars to investigate because they didn't have safety equipment to wear.

Walking through the crash site while speaking over the phone to journalists in Kiev, Bociurkiw suggested that some bodies might never be found.

"This is an area which was exposed to the most intense heat. We do not see any bodies here. It appears that some have been vaporised, not only bodies but also parts. The heat must have been absolutely intense," he said.

The Ukrainian National Security and Defence Council Spokesperson Andriy Lysenko said 196 bodies had been recovered and the search area was expanded.

Rebels said the bodies recovered from the crash site would remain in refrigerated train cars at a station in the rebel-held town of Torez, 15 kilometres (9 miles) away, until the arrival of an international aviation delegation.

They also said they have recovered the black boxes from downed Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 and would hand them over to the International Civil Aviation Organisation.

Ukraine and the separatists accuse each other of firing a surface-to-air missile Thursday at Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 as it flew from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur some 33,000 feet (10,000 metres) above the battlefields of

eastern Ukraine.

Both deny shooting down the plane. All those onboard the flight - 283 passengers and 15 crew - were killed.

AP TELEVISION

1. Wide of news conference

2. Cutaway of journalists

3. Close up of screen showing picture of Michael Bociurkiw, spokesman for the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) special monitoring mission to Ukraine

4. STILL OF Bociurkiw on screen, AUDIO: (English) Michael Bociurkiw, spokesman for OSCE special monitoring mission to Ukraine (speaking on phone)

"Okay, well, today was quite a significant development in the sense that we were able to, under very good security, visit the village of Torez, near the crash site. There, we went to the railway station and at the railway station there were several cars, three or four which were refrigerated. We were told these cars hold victims of the MH17 crash."

5. Close up of sign reading (English) "Ukraine Crisis media centre"

6. Cutaway of journalists

7. STILL OF Bociurkiw, AUDIO: (English) Michael Bociurkiw, spokesman for OSCE special monitoring mission to Ukraine (speaking on phone)

"Right. Okay so we were told there are 169 - one-six-nine (bodies). Because of the conditions of the train, I mean you need professional protective equipment to go in there, and the stench was absolutely overwhelming. I don't want to be too gruesome but it is a very, very difficult scene to watch. We were told that, for the time being, those cars will be stationary. And that they were wondering when experts will be arriving to start processing the bodies. But I think the kind of thinking is that the cars should be taken to Ukrainian-controlled territories such as Kharkiv and they can be processed there."

8. Cutaway of cameraman

9. Wide of news conference

10. STILL OF Bociurkiw, AUDIO: (English) Michael Bociurkiw, spokesman for OSCE special monitoring mission to Ukraine (speaking on phone)

"We're looking at the field where the engines have come down. This is an area which was exposed to the most intense heat. We do not see any bodies here. It appears that some have been vaporised, not only bodies but also parts. The heat must have been absolutely intense."

11. Andriy Lysenko, Ukrainian National Security and Defence Council Spokesperson, speaking

12. Cutaway cameras

13. SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) Andriy Lysenko, Ukrainian National Security and Defence Council Spokesperson:

"The bodies of 196 people have been found and the search operation committee has expanded the search area from 25 to 34 square kilometres."

14. Cutaway of cameramen

15. Cutaway of journalists

16. SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) Andriy Lysenko, Ukrainian National Security and Defence Council Spokesperson:

"All the bodies that have been directly under the sun have started to decompose. It is necessary to collect everything as fast as possible and remove them because it is becoming a danger to the civilian population of the area."

17. Cutaway of cameraman

18. Wide of news conference

An international delegation of Australian and Dutch police and forensic experts was forced to abandon a trip to the Malaysia Airlines debris field on Monday due to heavy fighting in the area.

The convoy of international experts and OSCE (Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe) monitors was brought to a halt in Shakhtarsk, a town around 20 miles (30 kilometres) from the fields where the Boeing 777 was brought down.

Some locals fled the town in a panic, saying a house in their neighbourhood had been hit, as the investigators waited on the outskirts hoping to get to the crash site beyond.

Soon after, investigators they were told to turn back.

"We are sick and tired of being interrupted by gunfights despite the fact that we have agreed that there should be a ceasefire," Alexander Hug from the OSCE said after the team had returned to Donetsk.

Meanwhile in Kiev a Ukrainian security spokesman said on Monday that data from the MH17 flight data recorders shows it crashed due to a "massive, explosive loss of pressure" after it was hit by fragments he said came from a missile.

Andriy Lysenko went on to deny that the Ukrainian army was responsible for fighting near the debris field, saying it was observing an instruction from President Petro Poroshenko to avoid any military engagement in an area 40 kilometres (25 miles) around the crash site.

Lysenko blamed attacks on residential areas in eastern Ukraine on "terrorists" trying to convince the local residents that the Ukrainian army is firing on them.

Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 went down on 17 July as it flew from Amsterdam towards Kuala Lumpur.

All 298 people aboard died.

The US and Ukrainian governments say it was shot down by a missile fired from territory held by armed pro-Russian separatists, probably by mistake.

AP TELEVISION

Donetsk

1. Self-proclaimed People's Republic of Donetsk (PRD) armed security officer walking alongside OSCE (Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe) convoy vehicles before leaving for MH17 crash site

2. Man picking up backpack and flak vest

3. Personnel getting into OSCE car

4. OSCE convoy leaving for crash site

5. Convoy on the road

Shakhtarsk

6. Various of PRD armed security guarding OSCE monitors

7. Wide of building being hit by shells in the distance, PRD security in foreground, smoke billows in distance, AUDIO: Explosion

8. People running away, including Alla Vladimirovna, Shakhtarsk resident, with her mother

9. Tracking shot of two women running, crying UPSOUND (russian) Alla Vladimirovna: "Mom, hang in there.", Woman on left: "We have no choice."

10. Vladimirovna and others loading luggage into car boot, UPSOUND (Russian): "Take your passports, don't forget to take your passports."

11. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Alla Vladimirovna, Shakhtarsk resident:

"Shooting in the city started yesterday (Sunday) at 12:00 (0900 GMT). House number 23 in our neighbourhood was hit."

12. OSCE convoy en route back to Donetsk

Donetsk

13. SOUNDBITE (English) Alexander Hug, Deputy Chief Monitor of OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine:

"We returned premature(ly) from out trip to the site. We were stopped in the town of Shakhtarsk on the way to the crash site. We were stopped because there was gunfire and what we understand was artillery impacts nearby, very near."

14. OSCE personnel with PRD police car in background

15. SOUNDBITE (English) Alexander Hug, Deputy Chief Monitor of OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine:

"There a job to be done. It can only be done if these guns are down, that we have no risk on our way there. We are sick and tired of being interrupted by gunfights despite the fact that we have agreed that there should be a ceasefire. Thank you."

Kiev

16. Ukrainian National Security and Defence Council information centre spokesman Andriy Lysenko during news conference

17. SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) Andriy Lysenko, Ukrainian National Security and Defence Council information centre spokesman:

"The experts who are investigating the reasons behind the Boeing 777 crash (MH17) informed us that data from the recovered flight data recorders shows that the reason for the sudden falling and the crash was because of a massive, explosive loss of pressure after being punctured multiple times by shrapnel."

18. Cutaway of media

19. SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) Andriy Lysenko, Ukrainian National Security and Defence Council information centre spokesman:

"The Ukrainian army has come close to the area of the crash site but our armed forces are not conducting active military actions there. As is known, the President of Ukraine (Petro Poroshenko) gave an order to stop all military actions 40 kilometres around the crash site."

20. Close up map showing situation on Ukrainian-Russian border

21. Lysenko showing map to journalists

22. SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) Andriy Lysenko, Ukrainian National Security and Defence Council information centre spokesman:

"The cases when the residential areas and houses have been shot were conducted by terrorists. Their aim for doing this is to frighten the local residents and to encourage the residents to believe that the Ukrainian side is doing it (shooting of houses). But we have video and photo evidence of terrorist shots in the residential areas."

23. Wide of news conference

A pro-Russia separatist leader said on Monday his forces continue to battle with the Ukrainian army for control over the strategic eastern Ukrainian town of Shakhtarsk.

Igor Strelkov, minister of defence for the self-proclaimed People's Republic of Donetsk, also denied any part in the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17.

"Yesterday and today forces of the militia (separatist fighters) massively withdrew from Donetsk to participate in the counterattack near Shakhtarsk," Strelkov told a news conference.

Panicking residents in Shakhtarsk fled their homes carrying a few possessions in plastic bags and small suitcases as shells exploded in the distance, fighting that also prevented an international police team from reaching the site of the Malaysia Airlines crash.

The fighting there and elsewhere in the area kept Dutch and Australian police from reaching the site for a second day, where they had planned to begin searching for remaining bodies and gathering forensic evidence.

"I do not know how the plane (MH 17) was shot down," Strelkov said in response to a reporter's question.

"I only know that it was shot and that's it. The only thing I can say is that my subordinates didn't shoot it down."

AP TELEVISON

1. Exterior of rebel-occupied government building

2. Detail of where Ukrainian flag symbol has been removed

3. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Igor Strelkov, Defence Minister of self-proclaimed People's Republic of Donetsk:

"Now the fight between Shakhtarsk and Torez continues. Militia (separatist fighters) attack the enemy (Ukrainian army) trying to push them (fighters) out of the strategically important checkpoint number 20 at the crossing between Torez and Shakhtarsk.

4. Cutaway of map

5. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Igor Strelkov, Defence Minister of self-proclaimed People's Republic of Donetsk:

"I will not estimate the outcome (of the battle with Ukrainian government) because not all operations are clear. I can say only this: the enemy is throwing everything they have into battle, all possible resources (have been deployed) to close the circle around the militia forces of Donetsk."

6. Cutaway of helmet rested on map

7. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Igor Strelkov,Defence Minister of self-proclaimed People's Republic of Donetsk:

"Yesterday and today forces of the militia (fighters) massively withdrew from Donetsk to participate in the counterattack near Shakhtarsk. After accomplishing the task, they will return to their positions."

8. Cutaway of map

9. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Igor Strelkov, Defence Minister of self-proclaimed People's Republic of Donetsk:

"I cannot comment on anything, because I do not know how the plane (MH 17) was shot down. I only know that it was shot and that's it. The only thing I can say is that my subordinates didn't shoot it down. Igor Bezler (another separatist military leader) is in Horlivka, the plane was shot in a different place.

(reporter question: What kind of support do you receive from Russia?)

Strelkov: "Mainly moral."

Two military aircraft carrying the bodies of some of the victims of the Malaysia Airlines crash left eastern Ukraine Wednesday, bringing some consolation to grieving relatives who still must wait for positive identifications and answers about who caused the disaster.

The Dutch government declared a day of national mourning as the country prepared for the arrival of the first bodies in the afternoon. The crash on Thursday killed all 298 people - most of them Dutch citizens - aboard Malaysia Airlines Flight 17.

Two military transport planes, one Dutch and one Australian, departed at midday, heading for Eindhoven air base, to be met by Dutch King Willem-Alexander, Queen Maxima, Prime Minister Mark Rutte and hundreds of relatives.

For days, Dutch police officers have been visiting the bereaved across the Netherlands - home to 193 of the dead - seeking information about distinguishing features and collecting DNA samples for use in identifying the remains.

That process will start Wednesday at a military barracks in the Dutch town of Hilversum, after the first planes carrying remains arrive in the Netherlands on a national day of mourning.

Meanwhile, people continued to pay their respects to the victims of the crash at a memorial at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport.

AP TELEVISION

Eindhoven military airbase

1. Close up of sign reading (Dutch) "Air Base Eindhoven"

2. Wide of vehicles driving in

3. Mid of sign reading (English) "Military facility"

4. TV truck outside gate

5. Police car

6. Truck carrying tank driving arriving at gate

Hilversum

7. Pan of Hilversum military base entrance

8. Close of military base sign

9. Military guards at entrance

10. Close of military sign

11. Wide of entrance

12. Guards and Dutch flag at half mast in background

13. Close of flag

14. Car entering base

Amsterdam

15. Various of make shift memorial at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport

16. People signing condolences books

17. SOUNDBITE (English) Jan Kikert

"You see it on everybody, on the faces from everybody. They want their children back. That's important for the family and their friends, for everyone."

18. Close up of photo of a young man and woman

19. SOUNDBITE (English) Monique Den Veer

"It is very important, they are waiting for a couple of days and now they are coming it is a very important day for all the people here and all the people in the country, very important."

20. Close up of teddy bear

21. People looking at memorial

An international team of investigators on Thursday managed to reach the crash site of the Malaysia Airline Flight 17 for the first time since it was brought down by a missile two weeks ago, as fighting continued to rage in eastern Ukraine.

Clashes along routes to the wreckage site between government troops and pro-Russian separatist rebels had kept the delegation from reaching the area to retrieve bodies that have been lying in open fields where midsummer temperatures have hovered around 90 degrees (32 degrees Celsius) for the last several weeks.

Ukraine's deputy prime minister vowed to maintain a route leading to the crash site safe, so it can continue to be used to access the embattled region.

Volodymyr Groysman also said an agreement ratified in parliament would allow some 700 people, including international investigators and military personnel, to operate on the crash site.

The plane was shot down on July 17, killing all 298 passengers and crew, including 43 Malaysians and 195 Dutch.

AP TELEVISION

1. Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman (right) and Chief Monitor of the OSCE (Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe) Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, Ertugrul Apakan, arriving at news conference

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Ertugrul Apakan, Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine:

"All parties, you know, were responsive in the manner of international team reach over there, and we count on the arrangements that our team will be able to go there each day, every day, in order to carry out this investigation in the upcoming two or three weeks time."

3. Journalists at news conference

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Ertugrul Apakan, Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine:

"It was SMM (OSCE Special Mission to Ukraine) team, as well as Netherlands and Australian teams were there. I also note that the Malaysian delegation has being in touch with us. They want to be there as soon as possible. This is my information, thank you."

5. Apakan and Groysman at podium

6. SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) Volodymyr Groysman, Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, Head of the government task force for MH17 crash investigation:

"I want to underline that today, parliament has ratified the agreements, that were signed on with the permission of the president, about the investigations and the access for the military mission on this territory. This means that according to these two treaties up to 700 people can visit this territory (crash site) and perform investigations, including military ones (investigations.) Up to 250 people from this amount are Australian representatives."

7. Cameras at news conference

8. SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) Volodymyr Groysman, Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, Head of the government task force for MH17 crash investigation:

"I want to inform you that today, on the president's behalf, the meeting of the (Russia - Ukraine - OSCE) contact group took place in Minsk. And I think it is reasonable to inform you about several questions that were raised there. Within the framework of the working contact group it was decided that the route, that was checked by the OSCE, Dutch and Australian partners, will be kept free from fighting or any military action by the rebels. This decision was approved within the three-way contact group."

9. Cameras at news conference

Two military transport planes carrying 40 coffins bearing victims of the downed Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 landed Wednesday in the southern city of Eindhoven, and pro-Russian rebels shot down two fighter jets in Ukraine's restive east as fighting flared in the region.

Six days after the Boeing 777 was shot down over the battlefields of eastern Ukraine, the first bodies finally arrived in the Netherlands, the country that bore the heaviest toll in a crash that killed all 298 passengers and crew.

A Dutch Hercules C-130 that Dutch government spokesman Lodewijk Hekking said was carrying 16 coffins touched down first, closely followed by an Australian C-17 Globemaster plane carrying 24 coffins.

The Dutch and Australian military transport planes departed Ukraine at midday and landed at Eindhoven Air Base, where the flights were met by Dutch King Willem-Alexander, Queen Maxima, Prime Minister Mark Rutte and other government officials. Hundreds of relatives were also there, Hekking said.

From the airport, they were to be driven under military police escort to the central city of Hilversum where forensic experts were waiting at a military barracks to carry out the painstaking task of identifying the remains. Rutte says many bodies could be identified quickly and returned to their loved ones, but some families may have to wait weeks for a positive identification.

The bodies arrived back in the Netherlands - which is home to 193 of the victims - on a day of national mourning. Flags flew at half-staff on government buildings and family homes around this country of 17 million. Church bells rang out as the planes taxied to a standstill in Eindhoven.

POOL - NO ACCESS NETHERLANDS

Road from Eindhoven to Hilversum, Netherlands - 23 July 2014

1. Various of mourners clapping gathered on overpass as bodies are transported

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 940529

Malaysia's defense minister said on Thursday that images retrieved from the underwater vehicle searching for MH370 were "very clear" but had so far returned no evidence of the missing flight.

Hishamuddin Hussein, who is also the acting transport minister, told media at a news conference in Kuala Lumpur that the clarity of the Bluefin 21's images "gives us a bit of relief" as deep water searches are planned to continue over the coming days.

The unmanned sub's first two missions were cut short by technical problems and deep water, but it finally managed to complete a full 16-hour scan of the silt-covered seabed far off Australia's west coast on Thursday.

Hussein also said they were working with the Joint Agency Coordination Centre (JACC) on bringing relatives of missing passengers from Beijing to Perth.

He said a Malaysian delegation will be sent to Beijing to brief the families on the next phase of the search to ensure "there won't be any speculation".

Despite weeks of searching, no debris related to the jet has yet been found.

AP TELEVISION

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - April 17, 2014

1. SOUNDBITE (English) Hishamuddin Hussein, Malaysian defence minister and acting transport minister:

"Firstly the visuals that we managed to get from the Bluefin 21 were very clear - not in finding what we were looking for, but what the seabed looks like. And that gives us a bit of relief as (in) the next few days we are going to intensify the deep water search."

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Hishamuddin Hussein, Malaysian Defence Minister and acting Transport Minister:

"We're working very closely with JACC (Joint Agency Coordination Centre) in the possibility of bringing those families (in Beijing) over to Perth if they wish to go there at a time to be specified. This next trip (of the Malaysian official delegation) that is going there (Beijing) is really to brief them on the next phase of our search and this is just to keep them informed, so that there won't be any speculation."

Ukraine's chief military prosecutor said on Monday they had detained a man suspected in the attempted murder of a Ukrainian investigator.

According to media reports, Olexander Ruvin, was shot in November last year, but survived the attempt on his life.

Ruvin was involved in the investigation of the downed Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014.

Anatoliy Matios told a media briefing in Kiev that there was evidence to suggest foreign involvement in the attempted murder.

Ukraine's chief military prosecutor said on Monday they had detained a man suspected in the attempted murder of a Ukrainian investigator.

According to media reports, Olexander Ruvin, was shot in November last year, but survived the attempt on his life.

Ruvin was involved in the investigation of the downed Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014.

Anatoliy Matios told a media briefing in Kiev that there was evidence to suggest foreign involvement in the attempted murder.

Kiev -­ 11 April 2016

1. Wide of Ukraine's chief military prosecutor Anatoliy Matios during briefing

2. SOUNDBITE: (Ukrainian) Anatoliy Matios, Ukraine's chief military prosecutor:

"The Department of the Criminal Investigations of the National Police and the Special Group of Security Services of Ukraine held operational-investigative actions and searches in a few cities today. As a result the suspect - who was rightly suspected in the attempted murder of the Director of the Kiev Research Institute of Forensic Expertise, Olexander Grygorovych Ruvin - was detained."

3. Cutaway of cameramen

4. SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) Anatoliy Matios, Ukraine's chief military prosecutor:

"Evidence obtained in criminal proceedings show that this offense was committed on the order of a person who is unidentified as of this moment. The aim was to stop or to remove expert research and lead the group of Ukrainian experts in the investigation the crashed aircraft Boeing 777, belonging to Malaysian Airlines, flight MH17, which was on route from Amsterdam, Netherlands to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia."

5. Wide of briefing

6. Mid of phone screen

7. SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) Anatoliy Matios, Ukraine's chief military prosecutor:

"The chief expert (Ruvin) was unable to continue research for more than six months. He needed treatment and needed complicated surgical operations abroad as a result of three bullet injuries. After his return to Ukraine an attempted attack on his person, to be more accurate, on the car which was usually used by Olexander Grygorovych Ruvin, was carried out again."

9. Mid of Matios

10. SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) Anatoliy Matios, Ukraine's chief military prosecutor:

"It has been confirmed by an investigation that aforementioned organised criminal groups, which include criminals from Crimea and the Donetsk region, have close relations with criminals from the Russian Federation. According to one of the versions of the investigation - and I would like to emphasise this is just one of the versions, based on information obtained from repeated phone calls with neighbouring countries - an order for this murder was made from abroad."

11. Various exteriors of General Prosecutor's Office

Ukraine blamed on Sunday pro-Russia rebels for stalling the recovery mission of the Malaysia Airlines plane crashed last month in eastern Ukraine.

Andriy Lysenko, Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council spokesperson, said that rebels had prohibited the use of an unmanned drone at the crash site, operated by OSCE (The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe) monitors in Ukraine.

"The use of the unmanned drone would give an opportunity to quickly inspect the field and overlook the place from a wider plan, as well as find new evidence. It can also find mines and detect the location of the militia," Lysenko said.

"Also, the drone could prove that the artillery fire was launched by terrorists," he added.

The work of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) monitors and group of the Dutch and Australian experts at the crash site has been postponed for days due to heavy fighting between pro-Russia forces and the Ukrainian Army.

Lysenko said that OSCE team had to stop their work on Saturday because of heavy gunfire about two kilometres (1.2 miles) away from the crash site.

This came after the international team of investigators were allowed on Thursday through a checkpoint at the village of Rozsypne leading to the crash site of Flight MH17 to get a first look at where it was brought down by a missile two weeks ago.

Thursday's drive took the convoy of investigators and Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) officials from the rebel-held city of Donetsk through the town of Debaltseve, which was earlier this week retaken by the government, and later back into rebel territory.

The OSCE mission will be launched in full speed on Monday, with over five teams working on the site, according to Lysenko.

It has been estimated that up to 80 bodies - out of 288 passengers on the downed MH17 flight - are still at the site.

AP TELEVISION

1. Andriy Lysenko, National Security and Defence Council spokesman at news conference

2. Lysenko speaking

3. SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) Andriy Lysenko, National Security and Defence Council spokesman:

"The Australian experts were not allowed to use an unmanned drone to inspect the site, as OSCE experts told us in their statement. Later on, the mission representatives were forced to stop their work, as Alexander Hug (Deputy Chief monitor of OSCE Special Mission to Ukraine) said, the work could not go on because of artillery fire which was carried out by the terrorists about two kilometres (1.2 miles) away from the crash site."

4. Journalist asking question

5. Lysenko behind camera screen

6. SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) Andriy Lysenko, National Security and Defence Council spokesman:

"The ban of using the unmanned drone, imposed by the terrorists, shows that rebels are not interested in an objective investigation. The use of the unmanned drone would give an opportunity to quickly inspect the field and overlook the place from a wider plan, as well as find new evidence. It can also find mines and detect the location of the militia. Also, the drone could prove that the artillery fire was launched by terrorists."

7. Lysenko speaking next to map

8. Close up of map showing fighting areas

9. News conference

President Vladimir Putin called for a "strengthening" of the Russian Black Sea fleet on Sunday, during a speech at a Navy Day memorial service at Severomorsk Naval Base.

Putin announced that Russia had bought eleven new battleship hulls, with the aim of "strengthening of the combat capabilities of the Black Sea Fleet. And Russia will revamp battleships' manpower and build a modern military infrastructure with social facilities."

Tensions have run high in the Ukraine region since March when Russia seized Crimea, home to the Black Sea Fleet, leading the US and EU to become highly critical of Putin's behaviour.

Months after Russia annexed Crimea and stepped up support for separatists in eastern Ukraine, Europe and the US are still searching for a way to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to change course.

Putin has been walking a tightrope in recent months, limiting his involvement in the Ukraine crisis just enough to avoid truly biting Western sanctions.

But the downing of a Malaysia Airlines passenger jet on 17 July, blamed by the US and Ukraine on pro-Russian rebels - possibly with Russian help - might have changed the equation, galvanising support among reluctant Europeans for additional penalties.

POOL - NO ACCESS RUSSIA

1. Russian President Vladimir Putin arriving at Navy Day commemoration ceremony

2. Crowd taking pictures

3. Putin following commemorative wreath being carried by two soldiers

4. Putin laying wreath at monument to Naval personnel who died during World War II

5. Close of Putin with head bowed

6. Top shot of monument, crowd in background ++SHORT SHOT++

7. Close of Putin

8. Top shot of Severomorsk Naval Base

9. Close of woman in crowd taking pictures

10. Focus shift of Navy personnel standing to attention during national anthem, bayonet attached to barrel of rifle in foreground

11. Wide of Putin during national anthem, Navy personnel in foreground

12. Military personnel in dress uniform marching with flags

13. Close of Putin

14. Wide of military parade

15. Tracking shot of nuclear attack submarine "Severodvinsk" (filmed from presidential boat)

16. Putin calling out to crew of submarine, crew shout in response

17. Pull out of submarine crew cheering on deck

18. Wide of aircraft carrier "Admiral Kuznetsov"

19. Reverse of Putin standing on deck of boat as it docks alongside carrier

20. Carrier crew standing on pontoon alongside carrier

21. Putin walking on deck of carrier followed by military officers

22. Putin greeting Navy officer on deck of carrier

23. SOUNDBITE (English) Vladimir Putin, Russian President: ++INCLUDES CUTAWAYS OF CARRIER AND NAVY PERSONNEL++

"We have purchased of eleven new hulls (of battleships). Among our priorities is surely the strengthening of the combat capabilities of the Black Sea Fleet. And Russia will revamp battleships' manpower and build a modern military infrastructure with social facilities."

24. Various of crowd at ceremony

25. Top shot pan of Navy personnel sat during ceremony

26. Amphibious landing vehicles driving into water from ship firing machine guns during Navy drill, AUDIO: Gunfire

27. Soldiers invading beach, jumping over fence, AUDIO: Gunfire

28. Amphibious landing vehicles in water, AUDIO: Gunfire

29. Reverse of Putin watching Naval exercise

30. Crowd watching drill

31. Wide of landing vehicles approaching shore, Navy ships in background

32. Landing vehicles in water

33. Various of a TU-143 long-range anti-submarine bomber flying overheard

34. Putin watching drill

Rebels shot down a Ukrainian MIG-29 aircraft as it flew over the Enakievo region on Thursday, Ukrainian authorities said on Friday.

"The pilot did all he could to lead the falling plane away from residential areas and afterwards catapulted," said Ukrainian security spokesman Andriy Lysenko.

"He is alive, now the search operation continues," Lysenko added.

Lysenko claimed that the rebels had also violated international laws by opening fire on a helicopter which was transporting their wounded men.

"According to all international law shooting at such kind of helicopters is forbidden. They are marked with special signs which are impossible to miss. The crew had to make a forced emergency landing," he said.

Lysenko said that three people injured in that incident were receiving treatment.

The insurgency in mostly Russian-speaking in eastern Ukraine flared up in April following Moscow's annexation of Crimea in response to the ouster of Ukraine's former pro-Russian president.

Ukraine and Western countries have accused Moscow of backing the mutiny with weapons and soldiers.

The West also accused Russia of most likely providing the insurgents with surface-to-air missiles that may have been used to shoot down a Malaysia Airlines passenger jet over rebel-held territory on July 17, killing all 298 people on board.

The Russian government has repeatedly denied all those charges.

AP TELEVISION

1. Andriy Lysenko, National Security and Defence Council spokesperson entering room

2. SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) Andriy Lysenko, National Security and Defence Council spokesperson:

"Yesterday in the Enakievo region, rebels shot down a MIG -29 plane. The pilot did all he could to lead the falling plane away from residential areas and afterwards catapulted. He is alive, now the search operation continues."

3. Wide of news conference

4. SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) Andriy Lysenko, National Security and Defence Council spokesperson:

"Yesterday at 18:40 (1640 GMT) terrorists opened fire at a sanitary helicopter MI-8, which was transporting the injured from the ATO (anti terrorist operation) zone. According to all international law, shooting at that kind of helicopter is forbidden. They are marked with special signs which are impossible to miss. The crew had to make a forced emergency landing. Three pilots are injured. At the moment they are at a medical centre controlled by the ATO forces"

5. News conference

6. Journalist asking a question

7. SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) Andriy Lysenko, National Security and Defence Council spokesperson:

"We are not shooting on Donetsk. We are liberating it. The residential areas are being shot at by the terrorists from their positions."

8. Mid of Lysenko, seen through camera screen

9. Wide of Lysenko leaving

The Ukrainian Security Service Counterintelligence Chief on Saturday claimed that the Buk M1 missile launcher that was allegedly used to shoot down a Malaysia Airlines plane over eastern Ukraine was operated by Russian citizens.

"Rebels can not operate the highly sophisticated and high technique missile launcher Buk M1. To operate Buk M1 you need to have military education and to be well trained," Vitaly Nayda said at a briefing in the Ukrainian Capital, Kiev.

"We know for sure that the team was Russian, they were Russian citizens operating Buk M1 and they came from the territory of the Russian federation together with the missile launcher."

Nayda went on to claim that the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) has evidence to show that three Buk 1 missile systems had been removed from Ukraine after the shooting down of the plane - supposedly to remove evidence from pro-Russia separatist held areas.

"Early in the morning, 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. (local time), 18th of July. 2 a.m. there were two Buk M1s going directly to Russia. And at 4 a.m. there were three heavy trucks, one was empty, one had a Buk M1 and one was with the operational car that helps to operate Buk M1."

Speaking to journalists after the briefing he continued by saying that the Ukrainian Security Service could not confirm who gave the order to remove the missile systems - but alleged that the information indicated that the order came from Russia.

AP Television has no independent way of proving or disproving the claims.

AP TELEVISION

1. Vitaly Nayda, Ukrainian Security Service Counterintelligence Chief, speaking at briefing

2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Vitaly Nayda, Ukrainian Security Service Counterintelligence Chief:

"Rebels can not operate the really sophisticated and high technique missile launch Buk M1. To operate Buk M1 you need to have military education and to be well trained. We know for sure that the team was Russian, they were Russian citizens operating Buk M1 and they came from the territory of Russian Federation together with the missile launcher."

3. Cutaway press centre logo

4. SOUNDBITE: (English) Vitaly Nayda, Ukrainian Security Service Counterintelligence Chief:

"Early in the morning, 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. (local time), 18th of July. 2 a.m. there were two Buk M1s going directly to Russia. And at 4 a.m. there were three heavy trucks, one was empty, one had a Buk M1 and one was with the operational car that helps to operate Buk M1."

5. Wide of Nayda

6. Cutaway of journalists

7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Vitaly Nayda, Ukrainian Security Service Counterintelligence Chief (answering question on who gave the order to move missile launchers over border to Russia):

"This intelligence we can't confirm right the direct authority that gave the order. We think either GRU (Russian Military Intelligence) or FSB (Russian security services) - that's it."

8. Pan of press centre logo

The Ukrainian Security Service Counterintelligence Chief on Saturday claimed that the Buk M1 missile launcher that was allegedly used to shoot down a Malaysia Airlines plane over eastern Ukraine was operated by Russian citizens.

"Rebels can not operate the highly sophisticated and high technique missile launcher Buk M1. To operate Buk M1 you need to have military education and to be well trained," Vitaly Nayda said at a briefing in the Ukrainian Capital, Kiev.

"We know for sure that the team was Russian, they were Russian citizens operating Buk M1 and they came from the territory of the Russian federation together with the missile launcher."

Nayda went on to claim that the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) has evidence to show that three Buk 1 missile systems had been removed from Ukraine after the shooting down of the plane - supposedly to remove evidence from pro-Russia separatist held areas.

"Early in the morning, 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. (local time), 18th of July. 2 a.m. there were two Buk M1s going directly to Russia. And at 4 a.m. there were three heavy trucks, one was empty, one had a Buk M1 and one was with the operational car that helps to operate Buk M1."

Speaking to journalists after the briefing he continued by saying that the Ukrainian Security Service could not confirm who gave the order to remove the missile systems - but alleged that the information indicated that the order came from Russia.

AP Television has no independent way of proving or disproving the claims.

AP TELEVISION

1. Vitaly Nayda, Ukrainian Security Service Counterintelligence Chief, speaking at briefing

2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Vitaly Nayda, Ukrainian Security Service Counterintelligence Chief:

"Rebels can not operate the really sophisticated and high technique missile launch Buk M1. To operate Buk M1 you need to have military education and to be well trained. We know for sure that the team was Russian, they were Russian citizens operating Buk M1 and they came from the territory of Russian Federation together with the missile launcher."

3. Cutaway press centre logo

4. SOUNDBITE: (English) Vitaly Nayda, Ukrainian Security Service Counterintelligence Chief:

"Early in the morning, 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. (local time), 18th of July. 2 a.m. there were two Buk M1s going directly to Russia. And at 4 a.m. there were three heavy trucks, one was empty, one had a Buk M1 and one was with the operational car that helps to operate Buk M1."

5. Wide of Nayda

6. Cutaway of journalists

7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Vitaly Nayda, Ukrainian Security Service Counterintelligence Chief (answering question on who gave the order to move missile launchers over border to Russia):

"This intelligence we can't confirm right the direct authority that gave the order. We think either GRU (Russian Military Intelligence) or FSB (Russian security services) - that's it."

8. Pan of press centre logo

The White House said on Monday that it expected the European Union to impose new sanctions this week against Russia, including against key sectors of the Russian economy, and that the United States would also implement further measures.

"In full coordination with Europe, the United States will implement additional measures itself," deputy national security advisor Tony Blinken said.

"Our purpose here again is not to punish Russia but to make clear that it must cease its support for the separatists and stop destabilising Ukraine."

Blinken was addressing reporters in Washington, DC, after US President Barack Obama and European leaders conferred earlier on Monday about the next steps for dealing with the crisis in Ukraine.

The White House said Obama had a joint telephone call with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande, British Prime Minister David Cameron, and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.

The West accuses separatists in eastern Ukraine of shooting down a passenger jet earlier this month, and blames Russia for supplying the rebels with the sophisticated ground-to-air missile system used in the downing of flight MH17.

AP TELEVISION

1. Wide of White House briefing room with U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor Tony Blinken walking up to podium ++MUTE++

2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Tony Blinken, U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor:

"They agreed on the importance of coordinated sanctions measures on Russia for its continued transfer of arms, equipment and fighters into Eastern Ukraine, including since the crash, and to press Russia to end its efforts to destabilise the country, and instead choose a diplomatic path for resolving the crisis."

3. Wide of briefing room ++MUTE++

4. SOUNDBITE: (English) Tony Blinken, U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor:

"The longer this goes on, there is the risk of further outrageous actions by the separatists or by Russia that deepen the international crisis. So there's a need to take further action now to convince Russia to change course and cease its efforts to destabilise Ukraine."

5. Wide of briefing room ++MUTE++

6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Tony Blinken, U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor:

"We expect the European Union to take significant additional steps this week including in key sectors of the Russian economy. In turn and in full coordination with Europe, the United States will implement additional measures itself. Our purpose here again is not to punish Russia but to make clear that it must cease its support for the separatists and stop destabilising Ukraine."

7. Wide of briefing room ++MUTE++

8. SOUNDBITE: (English) Tony Blinken, U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor:

"There is a way out: integrate Russia with the international economy, diversify away from fossil fuels, and play by the rules. That is still on offer. That is still a possibility. We would like nothing better than to resolve this crisis in Ukraine diplomatically. And that's now up to President Putin."

9. Wide of briefing room with Blinken walking away ++MUTE++

Australia's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop thanked the United States its help as a 15-month Dutch investigation into the downing of flight MH17 blamed a Soviet-made surface-to-air Buk missile for destroying the Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur flight.

It identified an area of 320 square kilometers (120 square miles) where it said the launch must have taken place, and all of the land was in the hands of pro-Russian separatists fighting Ukrainian forces at the time of the disaster, according to daily maps of fighting released by the Ukrainian National Security Council.

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said on Wednesday a criminal investigation of the atrocity will continue.

Bishop was in the US, having talks with Secretary of Defense Ash Carter and US Secretary of State John Kerry and Defense Minister Marise Payne.

Australia had the third largest number of victims with 39 Australian citizens and permanent residents aboard.

Australia's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop thanked the United States its help as a 15-month Dutch investigation into the downing of flight MH17 blamed a Soviet-made surface-to-air Buk missile for destroying the Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur flight.

It identified an area of 320 square kilometers (120 square miles) where it said the launch must have taken place, and all of the land was in the hands of pro-Russian separatists fighting Ukrainian forces at the time of the disaster, according to daily maps of fighting released by the Ukrainian National Security Council.

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said on Wednesday a criminal investigation of the atrocity will continue.

Bishop was in the US, having talks with Secretary of Defense Ash Carter and US Secretary of State John Kerry and Defense Minister Marise Payne.

Australia had the third largest number of victims with 39 Australian citizens and permanent residents aboard.

Australia's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop thanked the United States its help as a 15-month Dutch investigation into the downing of flight MH17 blamed a Soviet-made surface-to-air Buk missile for destroying the Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur flight.

It identified an area of 320 square kilometers (120 square miles) where it said the launch must have taken place, and all of the land was in the hands of pro-Russian separatists fighting Ukrainian forces at the time of the disaster, according to daily maps of fighting released by the Ukrainian National Security Council.

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said on Wednesday a criminal investigation of the atrocity will continue.

Bishop was in the US, having talks with Secretary of Defense Ash Carter and US Secretary of State John Kerry and Defense Minister Marise Payne.

Australia had the third largest number of victims with 39 Australian citizens and permanent residents aboard.

Australia's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop thanked the United States its help as a 15-month Dutch investigation into the downing of flight MH17 blamed a Soviet-made surface-to-air Buk missile for destroying the Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur flight.

It identified an area of 320 square kilometers (120 square miles) where it said the launch must have taken place, and all of the land was in the hands of pro-Russian separatists fighting Ukrainian forces at the time of the disaster, according to daily maps of fighting released by the Ukrainian National Security Council.

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said on Wednesday a criminal investigation of the atrocity will continue.

Bishop was in the US, having talks with Secretary of Defense Ash Carter and US Secretary of State John Kerry and Defense Minister Marise Payne.

Australia had the third largest number of victims with 39 Australian citizens and permanent residents aboard.

Australia's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop thanked the United States its help as a 15-month Dutch investigation into the downing of flight MH17 blamed a Soviet-made surface-to-air Buk missile for destroying the Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur flight.

It identified an area of 320 square kilometers (120 square miles) where it said the launch must have taken place, and all of the land was in the hands of pro-Russian separatists fighting Ukrainian forces at the time of the disaster, according to daily maps of fighting released by the Ukrainian National Security Council.

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said on Wednesday a criminal investigation of the atrocity will continue.

Bishop was in the US, having talks with Secretary of Defense Ash Carter and US Secretary of State John Kerry and Defense Minister Marise Payne.

Australia had the third largest number of victims with 39 Australian citizens and permanent residents aboard.

Australia's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop thanked the United States its help as a 15-month Dutch investigation into the downing of flight MH17 blamed a Soviet-made surface-to-air Buk missile for destroying the Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur flight.

It identified an area of 320 square kilometers (120 square miles) where it said the launch must have taken place, and all of the land was in the hands of pro-Russian separatists fighting Ukrainian forces at the time of the disaster, according to daily maps of fighting released by the Ukrainian National Security Council.

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said on Wednesday a criminal investigation of the atrocity will continue.

Bishop was in the US, having talks with Secretary of Defense Ash Carter and US Secretary of State John Kerry and Defense Minister Marise Payne.

Australia had the third largest number of victims with 39 Australian citizens and permanent residents aboard.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE TV

Boston, Massachusetts - 13 October 2015

1. US Secretary of State John Kerry, Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishiop, Australian Defense Minister Marise Payne enter room for press conference

2. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) Julie Bishiop / Australian Foreign Minister

"I want to thank the United States for their support in assisting Australia and the other countries who lost citizens aboard the ilfated Malaysian Airline MA-17. I raised that today, some months after the crash that occurred on the 17th of July, 2014, because today overnight Dutch Safety Board report into the cause of the downing of MH-17 where 38 Australian citizens and residents lost their lives, has been made public and that report while it does not nor did it have the responsibility to, it does not aportion blame. It most certainly rules out any other cause of the downing of this plane, and we now know that it was brought down by a surface-to-air Buk missile as the Australian government and the United States knew back in July of 2014. So we thank you for your support and that will be an ongoing challenge for us as we seek to bring the perpetrators of that atrocious act to account."

3. Kerry shaking hands at end of press conference