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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. |
| 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". |
| Body bags | Body bags |
| 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 an anti-aircraft system that was allegedly used in the incident, allegations the Kremlin denies. | Russia has been accused of providing the rebels with an anti-aircraft system that was allegedly used in the incident, allegations the Kremlin denies. |
| 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. with the team's leader, Peter Van Leit, saying storage was "of good quality". | Three Dutch investigators have now examined the bodies. with the team's leader, Peter Van Leit, saying storage was "of good quality". |
| However, speaking to the BBC, Mr Withers said the bodies of the victims had been loaded onto trains "like cargo". | However, speaking to the BBC, Mr Withers said the bodies of the victims had been loaded onto 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. |
| 'Bargaining chip' | 'Bargaining chip' |
| Barry Sweeney, the father of Liam Sweeney, who also died in the crash, told ITV's Good Morning Britain that the bodies of the 298 victims needed to be "brought home for this to close". | Barry Sweeney, the father of Liam Sweeney, who also died in the crash, told ITV's Good Morning Britain that the bodies of the 298 victims needed to be "brought home for this to close". |
| Mr Sweeney, a Newcastle United fan, had been travelling to New Zealand to watch the team play in a pre-season football tour. | Mr Sweeney, a Newcastle United fan, had been travelling to New Zealand to watch the team play in a pre-season football tour. |
| Asked about images of the crash site, his father said: "I try to stop watching it only because it's upsetting, especially when you're seeing body bags. | Asked about images of the crash site, his father said: "I try to stop watching it only because it's upsetting, especially when you're seeing body bags. |
| "But I'm hoping Liam's one of those because I don't want him to be lying there somewhere there's nobody there to give him a good cuddle, you know?" | "But I'm hoping Liam's one of those because I don't want him to be lying there somewhere there's nobody there to give him a good cuddle, you know?" |
| Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has said the forthcoming season will be dedicated to Mr 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 Mr 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. |
| Economic sanctions | |
| The relatives' calls come after 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". | |
| A No 10 spokeswoman said the prime minister had urged Mr Putin to use his influence on pro-Russian separatists, telling him the "world was now watching". | A No 10 spokeswoman said the prime minister had urged Mr Putin to use his influence on pro-Russian separatists, telling him the "world was now watching". |
| Mr Putin said in a statement on Russian television it was essential to give international experts security to conduct an investigation. | Mr Putin said in a statement on Russian television it was essential to give international experts security to conduct an investigation. |
| Mr Cameron, who will address the Commons later, has backed his Australian counterpart's demands for a new UN resolution to guarantee "unfettered access" to the crash site. The UN Security Council will vote on the proposed resolution 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 Britain was hoping to get unanimous support for the proposed resolution, saying the pressure on Mr Putin "would be kept up and stepped up". | A Downing Street spokesman said Britain was hoping to get unanimous support for the proposed resolution, saying 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", adding: "That is precisely what we will be seeking to deliver in the meetings in the EU later this week." | Speaking at a press conference in Whitehall, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said the time had come "for sanctions to be tightened further", adding: "That is precisely what we will be seeking to deliver in the meetings in the EU later this week." |
| 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. |