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| MH17 crash: UK relatives call for the return of victims' bodies | MH17 crash: UK relatives call for the return of victims' bodies |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Relatives of passengers killed in the Malaysia Airlines plane crash have called for the bodies of their loved ones to be returned home. | Relatives of passengers killed in the Malaysia Airlines plane crash have called for the bodies of their loved ones to be returned home. |
| Jordan Withers, nephew of Glenn Thomas - who was one of the 10 Britons on board flight MH17 - said the bodies of victims had been treated "inhumanely". | Jordan Withers, nephew of Glenn Thomas - who was one of the 10 Britons on board flight MH17 - said the bodies of victims had been treated "inhumanely". |
| Some 298 people died after the airline crashed in eastern Ukraine last week. | Some 298 people died after the airline crashed in eastern Ukraine last week. |
| PM David Cameron is to use a statement to MPs to press for tougher sanctions against Russia over its response. | PM David Cameron is to use a statement to MPs to press for tougher sanctions against Russia over its response. |
| Pro-Russia separatists, who retain control of the crash site in east Ukraine, have been blamed for downing the jet - reportedly with a missile - on 17 July. | Pro-Russia separatists, who retain control of the crash site in east Ukraine, have been blamed for downing the jet - reportedly with a missile - on 17 July. |
| Russia has been accused of providing the rebels with the anti-aircraft system allegedly used in the incident, allegations the Kremlin denies. | Russia has been accused of providing the rebels with the anti-aircraft system allegedly used in the incident, allegations the Kremlin denies. |
| Body bags | Body bags |
| On Sunday, the remains of up to 196 plane victims were loaded on to refrigerated rail wagons in Torez, some 15km (9 miles) away from the crash site. A second train arrived there later to take more bodies on board. | On Sunday, the remains of up to 196 plane victims were loaded on to refrigerated rail wagons in Torez, some 15km (9 miles) away from the crash site. A second train arrived there later to take more bodies on board. |
| Three Dutch investigators have now examined the bodies being held in Torez, with the team's leader, Peter Van Leit, saying storage was "of good quality". | |
| But Mr Withers told the BBC victims' bodies had been loaded on to trains "like cargo". | |
| His uncle, Glenn Thomas, was a World Health Organisation (WHO) media relations coordinator and former BBC journalist, who was travelling to Australia for an international Aids conference when he died in the crash. | His uncle, Glenn Thomas, was a World Health Organisation (WHO) media relations coordinator and former BBC journalist, who was travelling to Australia for an international Aids conference when he died in the crash. |
| "We just want our uncle back... because that is when we can start the grieving process and we can give him the send-off he deserves," Mr Withers said. | "We just want our uncle back... because that is when we can start the grieving process and we can give him the send-off he deserves," Mr Withers said. |
| Barry Sweeney, the father of Liam Sweeney, who also died in the crash, told the BBC: "Somebody asked me what would I say to Mr Putin. I said 'do now - talk later - let our relatives... come home and then sort it out later'. | Barry Sweeney, the father of Liam Sweeney, who also died in the crash, told the BBC: "Somebody asked me what would I say to Mr Putin. I said 'do now - talk later - let our relatives... come home and then sort it out later'. |
| "I'm not going to be political, I'm not going to blame anybody because they are all as bad as each other in their different ways - the Americans, I'm not even blaming the Russians - I'm just thinking we've got to get it right." | "I'm not going to be political, I'm not going to blame anybody because they are all as bad as each other in their different ways - the Americans, I'm not even blaming the Russians - I'm just thinking we've got to get it right." |
| 'Bargaining chip' | 'Bargaining chip' |
| Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has said the forthcoming season will be dedicated to Liam Sweeney and fellow fan, John Alder, who also died in the crash. | Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has said the forthcoming season will be dedicated to Liam Sweeney and fellow fan, John Alder, who also died in the crash. |
| Hugo Hoare, whose brother Andrew died in the crash, told the Telegraph he hoped the treatment of the bodies was "humane", but added: "The first thing I thought was what if they are going to use them as a bargaining chip?" | Hugo Hoare, whose brother Andrew died in the crash, told the Telegraph he hoped the treatment of the bodies was "humane", but added: "The first thing I thought was what if they are going to use them as a bargaining chip?" |
| Mr Hoare, 59, a banker, died along with his Dutch wife and their two children. | Mr Hoare, 59, a banker, died along with his Dutch wife and their two children. |
| The last of the 10 Britons who died were named over the weekend. | The last of the 10 Britons who died were named over the weekend. |
| They included 44-year-old drilling technician Stephen Anderson and law firm partner John Allen, 44, who died alongside his wife and three sons. | They included 44-year-old drilling technician Stephen Anderson and law firm partner John Allen, 44, who died alongside his wife and three sons. |
| 'Unfettered access' | 'Unfettered access' |
| Meanwhile, UK air crash investigators have started work after arriving in the Ukrainian capital Kiev. | Meanwhile, UK air crash investigators have started work after arriving in the Ukrainian capital Kiev. |
| The UK Department for Transport said the six-strong team, from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch, was providing "expert technical assistance", although it is not known whether they will gain access to the crash site. | The UK Department for Transport said the six-strong team, from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch, was providing "expert technical assistance", although it is not known whether they will gain access to the crash site. |
| Two Metropolitan Police officers are also in Ukraine as part of the UK's disaster victim identification team. | Two Metropolitan Police officers are also in Ukraine as part of the UK's disaster victim identification team. |
| Mr Cameron told Mr Putin in a "frank" phone call on Sunday that the delay in allowing experts access to the crash site was "completely unacceptable and indefensible". | Mr Cameron told Mr Putin in a "frank" phone call on Sunday that the delay in allowing experts access to the crash site was "completely unacceptable and indefensible". |
| The separatists are reported to have been obstructive and Moscow has been accused of not doing enough to pressure them to allow international access. | |
| Mr Putin has said in a statement on Russian television it was essential to give international experts security to conduct an investigation. | Mr Putin has said in a statement on Russian television it was essential to give international experts security to conduct an investigation. |
| Mr Cameron, who is due to address the Commons, has backed a new UN resolution to guarantee "unfettered access" to the crash site. The UN Security Council will vote on the proposed resolution later on Monday. | |
| The PM is also due to chair a meeting of the National Security Council, where the issue will be discussed. | The PM is also due to chair a meeting of the National Security Council, where the issue will be discussed. |
| And the UK is set to push for increased sanctions against Russia at a meeting of EU foreign ministers on Tuesday. | And the UK is set to push for increased sanctions against Russia at a meeting of EU foreign ministers on Tuesday. |
| The BBC's political correspondent Vicki Young said there was a "great deal of diplomatic activity" going on at all levels ahead of the expected vote. | The BBC's political correspondent Vicki Young said there was a "great deal of diplomatic activity" going on at all levels ahead of the expected vote. |
| A Downing Street spokesman said the pressure on Mr Putin "would be kept up and stepped up". | |
| Mr Cameron has made it clear he will press for more Russian individuals to be listed for travel bans and asset freezes. | Mr Cameron has made it clear he will press for more Russian individuals to be listed for travel bans and asset freezes. |
| And he is seeking further potential bans on companies and banks that are seen to facilitate the continuing conflict in Ukraine, our correspondent said. | And he is seeking further potential bans on companies and banks that are seen to facilitate the continuing conflict in Ukraine, our correspondent said. |
| However, BBC political correspondent Gary O'Donoghue said Downing Street was frustrated at the lack of appetite among other EU countries for expanding existing sanctions. | However, BBC political correspondent Gary O'Donoghue said Downing Street was frustrated at the lack of appetite among other EU countries for expanding existing sanctions. |
| 'Overwhelming evidence' | 'Overwhelming evidence' |
| Speaking at a press conference in Whitehall, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said the time had come "for sanctions to be tightened further". | |
| Chancellor George Osborne said fresh sanctions could harm the UK's economy - but warned that not acting could be "much worse". | Chancellor George Osborne said fresh sanctions could harm the UK's economy - but warned that not acting could be "much worse". |
| Ukraine and the pro-Russian separatists have accused each other of downing the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777, which had been travelling from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur. | Ukraine and the pro-Russian separatists have accused each other of downing the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777, which had been travelling from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur. |
| However, a spokesman for Mr Cameron said the PM had told the Russian leader that "the evidence suggested that pro-Russian separatists were responsible". | However, a spokesman for Mr Cameron said the PM had told the Russian leader that "the evidence suggested that pro-Russian separatists were responsible". |
| US Secretary of State John Kerry said there was overwhelming evidence of Russian complicity in the downing of the plane. | US Secretary of State John Kerry said there was overwhelming evidence of Russian complicity in the downing of the plane. |