Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said those who downed Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 must be brought to justice, as he made his first official visit to Malaysia on Thursday.

Poroshenko was officially welcomed by Indonesian Prime Minister Najib Razak at a welcoming ceremony in Putrajaya, just south of the capital Kuala Lumpur.

The two leaders engaged in a bilateral meeting discussing various issues, including the MH17 airplane tragedy, before giving a news conference in which both stressed the need to identify and bring to justice the perpetrators.

The Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 was shot down over war-ravaged eastern Ukraine, killing 298 people on 17 July 2014.

President Poroshenko is due to leave Malaysia on Friday for the next stage of his Asian trip, when he will leave for Jakarta, Indonesia.

Putrajaya - 4 August 2016

1. Various of Malaysian Honour Guard

2. Ukrainian President, Petro Poroshenko, and Malaysian Prime Minister, Najib Razak, listening to national athem

3. Poroshenko leaving platform

4. Media

5. Various of Poroshenko inspecting honour guard

6. Najib and Poroshenko arriving at news conference

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Najib Razak, Malaysian Prime Minister:

"We are also committed to finding out the truth (of what happened to Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17), and to make sure that justice is done and seen to be done, and on this basis we are awaiting for the criminal investigation report that is expected to be tabled towards the end of this year."

8. Najib and Proroshenko at news conference

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Petro Poroshenko, Ukranian President:

"We confirm our common stance on need to complete investigation of the flight MH17. This tragedy, and I'm absolutely sure we engage all the possible means to bring the perpetrators to justice."

10. Various of Poroshenko and Najib at bilateral meeting

11. Various of Poroshenko greeting Malaysian officials

12. Ukrainian and Malaysian flags

13. Photo of handshake between Najib and Poroshenko

The Malaysian Australian Business council and the Australian High Commission organised a reception on Sunday for visiting Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

Abbot said Australian businesses must venture out in order to gain opportunities abroad, including in Malaysia.

He also said the way Australia and Malaysia "have worked so well together" in addressing the twin tragedies of flights MH370 and MH17 has strengthen the relationship between the two countries.

The ongoing search efforts for the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 were high on the agenda during Abbott's visit.

Malaysia aims to send a search team to the crash site in Ukraine of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 before winter sets in to gather physical evidence to prove that it was shot down, Prime Minister Najib Razak has said.

The plane plunged from the sky on July 17, killing all on board, while flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur over an area of eastern Ukraine controlled by pro-Russia separatists.

Searches of the crash site were halted on August 6 due to concerns that fighting in the immediate area was a threat.

AP TELEVISION

1. Tracking Prime Minister Abbott arriving at reception

2. Wide reception guest

2. Wide Prime Minister Abbott going on stage

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Tony Abbott, Australian Prime Minister

"We want our business to be going out to the world, because wherever there is a dollar to be made, wherever there is an innovation to be put into place, I want Australia to be there."

4. Mid of podium

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Tony Abbott, Australian Prime Minister

"The twin tragedies, or the tragedy of MH370 and the atrocity of MH17, but the way our two countries have worked so well together in addressing these issues reflects the underlying strengths of our relationship, which has been getting better and better over the last five or six decades "

6. Mid of Abbott talking to participants

7. Abbott talking to participant

8. Wide of the event hall

9. Mid of Abbott posing for photo opportunity with participants

The leader of the pro-Russian rebels has agreed to hand over both black boxes from Flight MH 17 to Malaysian investigators who are in Ukraine, Malaysia's prime minister said early Tuesday.

Prime Minister Najib Razak also said that as part of an agreement he reached by phone with rebel leader Alexander Borodai on Monday evening, independent international investigators will be given "safe access" to the site where the Malaysia Airlines jet went down in eastern Ukraine en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur on Thursday, killing all 298 people onboard.

Najib said that as part of the agreement, the black boxes would be handed over to the Malaysian team in Donetsk at 9 p.m. Monday Ukraine time (1800 GMT Monday).

Meanwhile, the remains of 282 of the crash victims were being moved by train from the eastern Ukrainian city of Torez to Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine, Najib said.

From there, they will be flown to Amsterdam on a Dutch C130 Hercules military plane and handed over to Dutch authorities.

"I must stress that although an agreement has been reached, there remain a number of steps required before it is completed," Najib said at a hastily arranged news conference at his residence just after midnight Monday.

"There is work still to be done, work which relies on continued communication in good faith."

The Boeing 777 crashed in rebel-held territory, and the separatists are being blamed for shooting it down by much of the international community, including the United States.

Najib said that following any necessary forensic work, the remains of the 43 Malaysian citizens who were aboard the plane would be flown to their home country.

Anger and resentment toward the Russian-backed rebels and Moscow have been escalating worldwide, including in Malaysia, where there have been calls for economic sanctions against Russia.

AP TELEVISION

1. Wide of Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak walking in to news conference

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Najib Razak, Malaysian Prime Minister:

"At approximately 9pm tonight Ukraine time (1800 GMT) the two black boxes will be handed over to a Malaysian team in Donetsk, who will take custody of them."

3. Wide of Razak speaking

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Najib Razak, Malaysian Prime Minister:

"I must stress that although agreement has been reached, there remain a number of steps required before it is completed. There is work still to be done, work which relies on continued communication in good faith."

5. Cutaway of reporters

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Najib Razak, Malaysian Prime Minister:

"I ask that all parties continue to work together to ensure that this agreement is honoured and the remains of our people are returned, that the black box is handed over, and that the international team is guaranteed full access to the site. Only then can the investigation into MH17 truly begin; only then can the victims be afforded the respect they deserve."

7. Media at the news conference

8. Wide of Razak speaking

The Malaysian Parliament held a moment of silence on Wednesday for the people killed aboard Malaysia Airlines flight MH17.

All 298 people on board the plane were killed when it was shot down on Thursday in eastern Ukraine.

At the beginning of the session, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak addressed lawmakers and condemned "the inhumane, uncivilised, violent and irresponsible action" that led to the tragedy.

The session was also attended by the Russian Ambassador to Malaysia, Lyudmila Vorobyev.

The investigation over who is responsible for the tragedy is underway.

Western governments have accused pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine of shooting down Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 with a surface-to-air missile while it was flying at 33-thousand feet (10-thousand metres).

AP TELEVISION

1. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak (pink shirt) going through security as he enters Malaysian Parliament building

2. Malaysian Defence Minister Hishamuddin Hussein (pink tie) entering building and shaking hands with security officer

3. Pan from media to Hussein

4. Russian Ambassador to Malaysia, Lyudmila Vorobyev. sitting inside parliament

5. Razak entering room shaking hands with member of parliament

6. Close of Razak

7. Various of lawmakers observing moment of silence

8. SOUNDBITE (Malaysian) Najib Razak, Malaysian Prime Minister:

"These honourable members of the parliament are here to firmly condemn in the strongest terms the inhumane, uncivilised, violent and irresponsible action of the parties believed to have shot down flight MH17, resulting in the loss of 298 lives comprising of 283 passengers and 15 crew who were innocent."

9. Various of lawmakers

10. Wide pan of parliament

The Malaysian Prime Minister said on Thursday that it would be impossible to bring home the bodies of the Malaysian victims of the crashed Malaysia Airlines plane before the end of the month of Ramadan.

Najib Razak made his comments during a visit to the Dutch Ambassador's residence in Kuala Lumpur.

After signing a book of condolence at the residence, Razak stated that the body identification process and the forensic works could take weeks, or even months.

The first flight with body remains arrived on Dutch soil on Wednesday.

Razak also said he was angry that investigators still did not have full access to the crash site.

While the Dutch Ambassador Harry Molenaar said that after the bodies were returned home, they would like to see justice.

AP TELEVISION

1. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak walking through the Dutch ambassador's house , with the ambassador and others

2. Razak signing condolence book

3. Harry Molenaar, Dutch Ambassador to Malaysia looking on

4. Various of Razak signing condolence book

5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Najib Razak, Prime Minister of Malaysia:

"It is expected that this whole process will take weeks, it might even be months, we are not sure yet. But the people on the ground have informed me that it cannot be done before Raya (celebration day after the end of Holy Ramadan month). So, it is with much regret that I have to inform the families concerned. But this is not only a legal and technical requirement, but we want to give the dignity to the families concerned."

6. Message written by Razak in condolence book

7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Najib Razak, Prime Minister of Malaysia:

"Yes, I am angry and I want full access because it is unfortunately it is a war zone and you know a war zone, there are many constraints and not only having access but the safety of those people (investigators) that must be, both sides must respect the safety of the people. So, it is not as straight forward as it sounds, we are doing our level best and I will be making some effort to see that this will be respected by both sides."

8. Pull focus candle

9. SOUNDBITE: (English) Harry Molenaar, Dutch Ambassador to Malaysia:

"We would like to see justice. At the first step, priority was to get the bodies back. The second step is to get justice to what has happened to these people."

10. Card outside the Dutch ambassador's house reading (English) "Tributes to the soul of MH17"

11. Card outside the Dutch ambassador's house reading (English) "Our Heartfelt Condolences #MH17"

12. Flowers and cards outside the Dutch ambassador's house

SHOTLIST:

GRAPHIC: Malaysian passenger plane shot down over eastern Ukraine; scores dead

2013519

AP Television

Hrabove - 17 July 2014

1. Burning wreckage of plane with people walking in the background

2. ++GRAPHIC - CONTAINS SHOT OF DEAD BODY++ Wreckage of the plane with dead body lying in the grass

GRAPHIC: Wreckage of the Malaysian plane; bodies scattered across the ground

2013523

++GRAPHIC WARNING: THIS FOOTAGE CONTAINS PICTURES OF MANY DEAD BODIES STREWN AMONGST WRECKAGE++

AP TELEVISION

Hrabove - 17 July 2014

3. Wreckage of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 in field in Hrabove, eastern Ukraine, smoke and flames rising from pieces of plane

4. ++GRAPHIC++ Human bodies strewn amongst charred wreckage of plane as debris smokes

AP PHOTOS - No Access Canada/Broadcast use only/Strictly No Access Online or Mobile

Hrabove - 17 July 2014

5. STILL: Man in uniform gesturing while standing in debris

GRAPHIC: AP cover wreckage of the plane that was shot down over eastern Ukraine

2013530

AP TELEVISION

Hrabove- 17 July 2014

6. Wide of debris still smoking and on fire

7. debris still smouldering and on fire in places

Flowers and messages left at Schiphol Airport for passengers for downed plane

2013903

AP TELEVISION

Schiphol Airport - 20 July 2014

8. Zoom in to woman laying flowers

Crane lifts sections of plane wreckage as serach of crash site continues

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AP TELEVISION

Hrabove - 21 July 2014

9. A crane lifting pieces of plane wreckage

Train departs carrying bodies of crash victims in refrigerated carriages

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AP TELEVISION

Torez - 21 July 2014

10. A pile of luggage on the station platform

11. The train pulling away from the station

Separatist leader hands over black boxes to Malaysia officials

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AP TELEVISION

Donetsk - 22 July 2014

12. Mid of Malaysian official inspecting first black box and placing it in a bag

13. Close of black boxes, pull out to Sakri and rebel official shaking hands

Scuffles break out in parliament as MPs discuss Malaysian plane crash; minute of silence

2014252

AP TELEVISION

Kiev - 22 July 2014

14. Various of lawmakers pushing each other

OSCE mission inspects another site scattered with debris from plane crash

2014417

AP TELEVISION

Petropavlivka - 23 July 2014

15. Wide of OSCE Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) inspectors

convoy at side of field

Planes carrying 38 MH17 coffins arrive to the Netherlands in a solemn ceremony

2015060

AP TELEVISION

Eindhoven - 26 July 2014

16. Various of military carrying a coffin

STORYLINE:

An Associated Press journalist has counted at least 22 bodies at the wreckage site of a passenger plane that was shot down on July 17th 2014 as it flew over the country.

Both the government and the pro-Russia separatists fighting in the region denied any responsibility for downing the plane.

The plane appeared to have broken up before impact and the burning wreckage - which included body parts and the belongings of passengers - was scattered over a wide area.

***

Dead bodies of passengers were visible amongst the smouldering wreckage of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 on July 17th after the plane was shot down over eastern Ukraine.

Both the Ukrainian government and the pro-Russia separatists fighting in the region denied any responsibility for downing the aircraft, which was carrying 295 people.

As plumes of black smoke rose up near a rebel-held village of Hrabove, an Associated Press journalist counted at least 22 bodies at the wreckage site 40 kilometres (25 miles) from the Russian border.

The Boeing 777-200ER plane, travelling from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, appeared to have broken up before impact and the burning wreckage, which included body parts and the belongings of passengers, was scattered over a wide area.

Men in army fatigues, believed to be pro-Russia separatists, were seen at the crash site.

***

A Malaysia Airlines passenger plane carrying 295 people was shot down over eastern Ukraine on July 17th, Ukrainian officials said.

The Boeing 777-200ER plane, travelling from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, appeared to have broken up before impact and the burning wreckage, which included body parts and the belongings of passengers, was scattered over a wide area.

Both the government and the pro-Russia separatists fighting in the region denied any responsibility for downing the aircraft.

The village is under the control of pro-Russia separatists and the area has seen severe fighting between the two sides in recent days.

A Russian news report said pro-Russia rebels intend to call a three-day cease-fire to allow for an investigation into the crash and recovery efforts.

***

Flowers were laid outside Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands on July 20th to commemorate the victims of the downed flight MH17.

KLM (Royal Dutch Airlines) flight attendants and members of the public also left messages in a book of condolences just outside the airport.

Airline employees are starting to wonder how safe it is to fly over crisis zones.

"We always assume that everything is safe but apparently it is not, so that is another reason to be wondering what happened here," said Boris Tester, a purser for KLM.

The Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said Saturday he had an "extremely intense" telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which he urged him to use his influence over separatist rebels in Ukraine to ensure they do not hinder efforts to investigate the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17.

The plane crashed on July 17th, killing all 298 passengers and crew, most of them Dutch citizens.

***

A crane at the crash scene moved big chunks of the Boeing 777 on Monday while emergency workers retrieved more bodies in the sprawling fields of eastern Ukraine where Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was downed, killing all 298 people aboard.

By early July 21st, local emergency workers had piled at least 21 black body bags by the side of the road in Hrabove.

That brought the total found to 272 of the 298 passengers and crew killed in the tragedy, according to Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk.

The bodies were being sent to the refrigerated railcars in the nearby town of Torez, where the other bodies are being kept.

A train engineer told The Associated Press that the cars' refrigeration had been off overnight and it was not immediately clear why. The cooling system was back up and running early July 21st, he said.

The shambolic attempts to investigate by the pro-Russia separatists who control the verdant farmland where pieces of the plane crashed have fanned widespread international outrage, especially from the nations whose citizens were on the doomed plane.

Four days after the jetliner was shot out of the sky, international investigators still had only limited access to the crash site in eastern Ukraine.

The the UN Security Council is expected to vote today on an Australia-proposed resolution demanding international access to the crash site and a cease-fire around the area.

***

A refrigerated train bearing the bodies of many of the 298 people killed in the Malaysia Airlines plane disaster pulled away on July 21st from a rebel-held town in eastern Ukraine.

The train left from Torez, 15 kilometres (9 miles) from the crash site.

An Associated Press reporter overheard armed separatists saying it was heading for the rebel-held town of Ilovaysk.

There was no official confirmation of that destination from the rebels.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said that the remains of 282 of the crash victims are being moved by train to Kharkiv, where they will be handed over to Dutch authorities.

From there, he said, they will be flown to Amsterdam on a Dutch C130 Hercules military plane and handed over to Dutch authorities.

Razak said the leader of the pro-Russian rebels has agreed to hand over both black boxes from Flight 17 to Malaysian investigators who are in Ukraine.

***

A Ukrainian separatist leader handed over black boxes from flight MH17 to Malaysia officials in Donetsk early on July 22nd.

Alexander Borodai, Prime Minister of self-proclaimed People's Republic of Donetsk said they were "being returned to their owners."

A Malaysian investigator said the boxes were in good condition.

Flight MH17 was shot down in the rebel-controlled area of eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 people onboard.

Experts have called for a full forensic sweep of the crash site amid suggestions that some of the evidence may have been tampered with.

***

Scuffles broke out in the Ukrainian parliament on July 22nd after a lawmaker blamed the Ukrainian authorities for failing to adopt a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine and accused them of running a war against the Ukrainian people.

The accusations were made by lawmaker Mykola Levchenko from the Party of Regions, which was close to Ukraine's former president Viktor Yanukovych.

Lawmaker Ihor Miroshychenko from the Svoboda Party started to push Levchenko, before other lawmakers joined in the fight.

The incident took place as parliament discussed Malaysian airlines flight MH17, which crashed in eastern Ukraine the previous week.

The parliamentary session started with a minute of silence to remember the victims.

Oleksandr Turchynov, the Chairman of the Ukrainian Parliament, accused Russia of committing "acts of military aggression against Ukraine" by providing weapons to separatist fighters in eastern Ukraine and sending troops to the border.

"Russia is continuing an escalation of armed opposition in these (Donetsk and Luhansk) regions," said Andriy Parubiy, the Secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council.

"Right now, around 41-thousand Russian Federation armed forces servicemen are located on the eastern and northern Ukrainian borders and Crimea's borders," he added.

Fighting in eastern Ukraine began in mid-April after Russia annexed Ukraine's southern Crimean Peninsula a month earlier.

***

Monitors from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) on July 23rd visited a different site peppered with wreckage of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17.

The pro-Russian separatists who are in control of the main crash area are showing little willingness to allow the full-scale investigation that's being demanded by world leaders.

The debris is still unguarded across a wide stretch of farmland.

International observers say there are signs that the debris is being mishandled or even tampered with.

So far, though, there still has not been a full-scale investigation of the site.

Ukrainian aviation officials were allowed to visit briefly on July 18th but got little access.

Forensic officials from the Netherlands were allowed a visit on July 21st.

***

Two military cargo planes, one Dutch and the other Australian, also flew 38 more coffins carrying victims to the Netherlands for identification and investigation.

The planes took off on July 26th from Kharkiv, a government-controlled city where the bodies have been brought from the wreckage site in territory held by pro-Russian separatists fighting the Ukrainian government.

They landed later in the afternoon in Eindhoven, where the coffins were transferred to a fleet of hearses in a solemn ceremony.

Officials said the flights took the last of the 227 coffins containing victims that had been brought to Kharkiv by refrigerated train.

Officials say the exact number of people held in the coffins is still to be determined by forensic experts in the Netherlands.

International observers have said there are still remains at the crash site. Access has been limited due to rebel interference and security concerns.

The Boeing 777 went down July 17 as it headed to Kuala Lumpur from Amsterdam, killing all 298 people on board. Most of them were Dutch citizens.

Malaysia's prime minister on Tuesday said his country remains committed to bringing to justice those responsible for the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 two years ago.

Najib Razak's comments Tuesday come a day before the results of an international criminal investigation into the incident are released.

Speaking in Berlin at a joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Najib said after Dutch authorities release the criminal investigation results, the countries involved will discuss the next course of action based upon the findings.

The Dutch Safety Board has previously said the plane flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was hit by a missile fired from eastern Ukraine.

Russia-backed separatists controlled that territory at the time.

All 298 people aboard died.

Najib also commented on corruption allegations in relation to the state development fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), in which he is personally involved.

Najib has denied any wrongdoing, saying "Malaysia will do its best to cooperate" with international investigators and that his was "the best government to lead Malaysia into the future."

Berlin - 27 September 2016

1. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Prime Minister of Malaysia Najib Razak arriving

2. Cutaway of journalists

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Najib Razak, Malaysian Prime Minister:

"We have made a commitment that those responsible for the downing of MH-17 will be brought to justice, that continues to be our position. We will wait until the report is tabled, and after which the countries concerned will discuss the next course of action."

4. Merkel and Najib at news conference

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Najib Razak, Malaysian Prime Minister:

(On corruption allegations in relation to Malaysia's state development fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd and calls for elections) "Within the bounds of good governance and rule of law, Malaysia will do its best to cooperate and to do whatever is necessary. Secondly, the question of elections is not due to any single factor. It must be predicated on the basis that we have good policies in Malaysia, we are delivering for the benefit of the people, and we are the best government to lead Malaysia into the future."

6. Cutaway of photographer taking picture

7. Merkel and Najib shaking hands

The Malaysian government held a remembrance ceremony for the 298 victims of flight MH17 in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said the ultimate closure would be to bring those responsible to justice.

Rajindar Singh who lost his brother Karamjit Singh, said bringing the perpetrators to justice still won't bring back his brother.

Controversy continues over who downed Flight MH17 last year killing all 298 people on board.

Ukraine and the West suspect it was destroyed by a Russian surface-to-air missile fired by Russian soldiers or pro-Russia separatist rebels fighting in the area of eastern Ukraine.

Moscow denies that and Russian officials and state media have alleged the plane was shot down by a Ukrainian missile or a warplane.

AP TELEVISION

Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - 11 July 2015

1. Flagbearers arriving on stage during remembrance ceremony for victims of flight MH17, AUDIO: Music

2. Next of kin

3. Next of kin crying

4. Cameramen

5. Next of kin

6. Flagbearers on stage, AUDIO: Music

7. Screen on stage showing names of victims, AUDIO: Music

8. Flagbearers

9. Screen on stage reading (Malay) "MH17 Tragedy Remembrance Ceremony, 11 July 2015, Bunga Raya Complex, KLIA (Kuala Lumpur International Airport)

10. Flagbearers, AUDIO: Music

11. Set up shot of Rajindar Singh (right)

12.SOUNDBITE (English) Rajindar Singh, MH17 next of kin:

"Justice, I don't know, I just heard there might be some tribunal, there might be something financial, but that doesn't replace people that you have lost."

13. Various of next of kin

14. Photographers

15. Next of kin

16. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak arriving

17.SOUNDBITE (English) Najib Razak, Malaysian Prime Minister.

"A full closure to this incident is absolutely vital so that all the next of kin can continue with their lives, therefore the ultimate action of finding who were responsible and bringing them to book and to justice."

18. Next of kin

19. A pilot

20. Photographer

21. Next of kin

AP TELEVISION

FILE: Hrabove, Ukraine - 20 July 2014

22. Various of wreckage of crashed Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 and debris around crash site

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus014727

VOICE-OVER:

MALAYSIA'S PRIME MINISTER IS CALLING ON UKRAINIAN AND PRO-RUSSIAN SEPARATISTS TO AGREE TO A CEASE-FIRE IN THE AREA SURROUNDING THE SITE WHERE MALAYSIA AIRLINES FLIGHT 17 WAS SHOT DOWN.

(SOT: Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak)

"The conflict in eastern Ukraine may not be easily resolved, but the people on board that plane had no part in it."

TWO WEEKS AFTER THE PLANE'S DESTRUCTION, THE REMAINS AND PERSONAL POSSESSIONS OF MANY OF THE VICTIMS HAVEN'T BEEN RECOVERED _ TO THE ANGUISH OF THEIR RELATIVES AND FRIENDS.

(SOT: Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak)

"We ask there be an immediate cessation of hostilities in and around the crash site by both Ukrainian and separatist forces. We ask that all sides respect the lives lost and the integrity of the crash site so that the investigation may proceed."

THE MALAYSIAN LEADER SPOKE SHORTLY BEFORE INVESTIGATORS SUCCEEDED IN REACHING THE CRASH SITE FOR THE FIRST TIME.

INVESTIGATORS WERE ALLOWED THROUGH A CHECKPOINT LEADING TO THE CRASH SITE BY A RIFLE-TOTING MILITIAMAN WHO THEN FIRED A WARNING SHOT TO PREVENT REPORTERS FROM ACCOMPANYING THE CONVOY.

THE INTERNATIONAL TEAM OF POLICE AND FORENSIC EXPERTS ARE EXPECTED TO INITIALLY FOCUS THEIR EFFORTS ON RETRIEVING BODIES STILL ON THE SITE AND COLLECTING VICTIMS' BELONGINGS.

IT REMAINS UNCLEAR EXACTLY HOW MANY BODIES REMAIN AND WHAT CONDITION THEY ARE IN AFTER BEING EXPOSED FOR SO LONG TO THE ELEMENTS.

ALL 298 PASSENGERS AND CREW ABOARD FLIGHT 17 WERE KILLED, INCLUDING 43 MALAYSIANS AND 195 DUTCH NATIONALS.

TRACY BROWN/Associated Press

AP TELEVISION

The Hague, Netherlands - 31 July 2014

1. Arrival of Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak

AP TELEVISION

FILE: Hrabove, Ukraine - 18 July 2014

2. Wide of piece of crashed plane's wing

AP TELEVISION

The Hague, Netherlands - 31 July 2014

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Najib Razak, Malaysian Prime Minister: (Transcript below)

AP TELEVISION

Hrabove, Ukraine - 19 July 2014

4. Various of plane debris

5. People walking past part of crash site

AP TELEVISION

The Hague, Netherlands - 31 July 2014

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Najib Razak, Malaysian Prime Minister: (Transcript below)

AP TELEVISION

Hilersum, Netherlands - 31 July 2014

4. Mid shot Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife, Rosmah Mansor, laying flowers at memorial for MH17 passengers

AP TELEVISION

Rozsypne, Ukraine - 31 July 2014

5. Mid, OSCE investigator putting on armored vest

6. Travelling shot of OSCE convoy en route to crash site, driving around barricades

7. Convoy stopped at rebel checkpoint, then moving through

8. Wide of shell hitting in distance; AUDIO: explosion; travelling shot from inside vehicle racing away

AP TELEVISION

Hilersum, Netherlands - 31 July 2014

Mid shot Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife, Rosmah Mansor, laying flowers

Mid shot flowers at memorial

Close-up condolence note on flowers from Razak

VOICE-OVER:

MALAYSIA'S PRIME MINISTER IS CALLING ON UKRAINIAN AND PRO-RUSSIAN SEPARATISTS TO AGREE TO A CEASE-FIRE IN THE AREA SURROUNDING THE SITE WHERE MALAYSIA AIRLINES FLIGHT 17 WAS SHOT DOWN.

(SOT: Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak)

"The conflict in eastern Ukraine may not be easily resolved, but the people on board that plane had no part in it."

TWO WEEKS AFTER THE PLANE'S DESTRUCTION, THE REMAINS AND PERSONAL POSSESSIONS OF MANY OF THE VICTIMS HAVEN'T BEEN RECOVERED _ TO THE ANGUISH OF THEIR RELATIVES AND FRIENDS.

(SOT: Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak)

"We ask there be an immediate cessation of hostilities in and around the crash site by both Ukrainian and separatist forces. We ask that all sides respect the lives lost and the integrity of the crash site so that the investigation may proceed."

THE MALAYSIAN LEADER SPOKE SHORTLY BEFORE INVESTIGATORS SUCCEEDED IN REACHING THE CRASH SITE FOR THE FIRST TIME.

INVESTIGATORS WERE ALLOWED THROUGH A CHECKPOINT LEADING TO THE CRASH SITE BY A RIFLE-TOTING MILITIAMAN WHO THEN FIRED A WARNING SHOT TO PREVENT REPORTERS FROM ACCOMPANYING THE CONVOY.

THE INTERNATIONAL TEAM OF POLICE AND FORENSIC EXPERTS ARE EXPECTED TO INITIALLY FOCUS THEIR EFFORTS ON RETRIEVING BODIES STILL ON THE SITE AND COLLECTING VICTIMS' BELONGINGS.

IT REMAINS UNCLEAR EXACTLY HOW MANY BODIES REMAIN AND WHAT CONDITION THEY ARE IN AFTER BEING EXPOSED FOR SO LONG TO THE ELEMENTS.

ALL 298 PASSENGERS AND CREW ABOARD FLIGHT 17 WERE KILLED, INCLUDING 43 MALAYSIANS AND 195 DUTCH NATIONALS.

TRACY BROWN/Associated Press

AP TELEVISION

The Hague, Netherlands - 31 July 2014

1. Arrival of Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak

AP TELEVISION

Hrabove, Ukraine - 18 July 2014

2. Wide of piece of crashed plane's wing

AP TELEVISION

The Hague, Netherlands - 31 July 2014

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Najib Razak, Malaysian Prime Minister: (Transcript below)

AP TELEVISION

Hrabove, Ukraine - 19 July 2014

4. Various of plane debris

5. People walking past part of crash site

AP TELEVISION

The Hague, Netherlands - 31 July 2014

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Najib Razak, Malaysian Prime Minister: (Transcript below)

AP TELEVISION

Hilersum, Netherlands - 31 July 2014

4. Mid shot Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife, Rosmah Mansor, laying flowers at memorial for MH17 passengers

AP TELEVISION

Rozsypne, Ukraine - 31 July 2014

5. Mid, OSCE investigator putting on armored vest

6. Travelling shot of OSCE convoy en route to crash site, driving around barricades

7. Convoy stopped at rebel checkpoint, then moving through

8. Wide of shell hitting in distance; AUDIO: explosion; travelling shot from inside vehicle racing away

AP TELEVISIONY

Hilersum, Netherlands - 31 July 2014

Mid shot Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife, Rosmah Mansor, laying flowers

Mid shot flowers at memorial

Close-up condolence note on flowers from Razak

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife, Rosmah Mansor, laid bouquets of flowers at a memorial for passengers of flight MH17 in Hilversum, Netherlands, on Thursday.

The Hilversum military base is where the remains of more than 200 victims are being painstakingly identified at a military base in Hilversum in a process that could take weeks or months.

All 298 passengers and crew aboard Flight MH17 were killed, including 43 Malaysians and 195 Dutch nationals, when the plane was destroyed on July 17.

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has said about 80 bodies have yet to be recovered from the wreckage, which has been inaccessible to investigators for days because of fighting between the Ukrainian army and pro-Russia separatists.

AP TELEVISION

1. Mid shot Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife, Rosmah Mansor, laying flowers at memorial for MH17 passengers

2. Close-up condolence note on flowers from Razak

3. Mid shot Razak and Mansor standing at memorial

4. Close-up condolence note on flowers from Mansor

5. Mid shot flowers at memorial

6. Razak and Mansor walking away from memorial

7. Cutaway onlookers

8. Wide shot memorial

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte welcomed his Malaysian counterpart in the Hague on Thursday to discuss plans for repatriating remains of Malaysian victims of the passenger plane shot over eastern Ukraine, and continuing problems accessing the crash site.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak was later expected to travel to a military base in Hilversum, outside Amsterdam, where the remains of more than 200 victims are being painstakingly identified.

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

Some bodies have yet to be recovered at the crash site, which has been inaccessible to investigators for days due to fighting between the Ukrainian army and pro-Russia separatists.

AP TELEVISION

1. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte standing on red carpet, motorcade of Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak arriving, Nazak coming out of car and shaking hands with Rutte

2. Rutte and Nazak posing for photographs and walking inside building