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Ukraine MH17: Air crash team finds human remains Ukraine MH17: Air crash team finds human remains
(about 4 hours later)
A team of 70 Dutch and Australian forensic experts has found human remains at the site of the flight MH17 crash in east Ukraine.A team of 70 Dutch and Australian forensic experts has found human remains at the site of the flight MH17 crash in east Ukraine.
They made their discovery on their first full day of searching at the site, an area of some 35 sq km (13.5 sq miles) inside the conflict zone.They made their discovery on their first full day of searching at the site, an area of some 35 sq km (13.5 sq miles) inside the conflict zone.
Local search parties found 227 of the 298 victims earlier and they were flown to the Netherlands for identification.Local search parties found 227 of the 298 victims earlier and they were flown to the Netherlands for identification.
Fighting still rages, with 10 Ukrainian soldiers killed nearby on Thursday. Presidents Obama and Putin discussed the crisis by telephone on Friday.
The US president told his Russian counterpart that he was "deeply concerned" over his continuing support for pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine.
Both leaders did, however, agree that continuing fighting in Ukraine was not in the interests of either country, the Kremlin said.
In the latest violence, 10 Ukrainian soldiers were killed near the MH17 crash site on Thursday.
The fighting between government troops and pro-Russian separatist rebels had previously prevented the investigators reaching the area.The fighting between government troops and pro-Russian separatist rebels had previously prevented the investigators reaching the area.
A Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 airliner came down on 17 July with the loss of all 298 passengers and crew, while flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.A Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 airliner came down on 17 July with the loss of all 298 passengers and crew, while flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.
After Ukraine's military declared a unilateral one-day suspension of operations against the rebels in Donetsk region on Thursday, an exploratory visit was made by the forensic experts, followed by the full deployment on Friday.After Ukraine's military declared a unilateral one-day suspension of operations against the rebels in Donetsk region on Thursday, an exploratory visit was made by the forensic experts, followed by the full deployment on Friday.
It is now unclear whether Ukraine's army or separatist forces control the site, as fighting continues nearby, the BBC's Tom Burridge reports from Kharkiv.It is now unclear whether Ukraine's army or separatist forces control the site, as fighting continues nearby, the BBC's Tom Burridge reports from Kharkiv.
'Stench of death''Stench of death'
The head of the search mission, Pieter-Jaap Aalbersberg, announced that it had completed its first day of work and had recovered human remains which would be sent to the Netherlands.The head of the search mission, Pieter-Jaap Aalbersberg, announced that it had completed its first day of work and had recovered human remains which would be sent to the Netherlands.
He said the mission was moving to a new base in the Donetsk town of Soledar.He said the mission was moving to a new base in the Donetsk town of Soledar.
The investigators had travelled in 16 vehicles to the crash site, outside the village of Grabove, along with monitors from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).The investigators had travelled in 16 vehicles to the crash site, outside the village of Grabove, along with monitors from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
Artillery fire could be heard periodically somewhere in the distance during the work on Friday, AP news agency reports.Artillery fire could be heard periodically somewhere in the distance during the work on Friday, AP news agency reports.
In a tweet, the OSCE said the investigators had been bolstered by "new assets", an apparent reference to two vans marked with red crosses.In a tweet, the OSCE said the investigators had been bolstered by "new assets", an apparent reference to two vans marked with red crosses.
Regional OSCE spokesman Michael Bociurkiw, who visited the site previously, said that despite reports of tampering with evidence, it looked much the same as when his team had last seen it, nearly a week ago.Regional OSCE spokesman Michael Bociurkiw, who visited the site previously, said that despite reports of tampering with evidence, it looked much the same as when his team had last seen it, nearly a week ago.
"The stench of death is still there," he he told Boston's NPR news station by phone on Thursday."The stench of death is still there," he he told Boston's NPR news station by phone on Thursday.
Killed or missingKilled or missing
Col Andriy Lysenko, Ukrainian national security spokesman, said troops had been ambushed on Thursday by rebels defending the town of Shakhtarsk against the army.Col Andriy Lysenko, Ukrainian national security spokesman, said troops had been ambushed on Thursday by rebels defending the town of Shakhtarsk against the army.
Ten soldiers were killed, 11 were missing and 13 were wounded, he said.Ten soldiers were killed, 11 were missing and 13 were wounded, he said.
The Donetsk rebels' news agency said on Twitter that an "enemy" column had been "repulsed" and three soldiers from Ukraine's 25th Air Mobile Brigade had been taken prisoner. The rebels say they destroyed more than 30 vehicles in the ambush.The Donetsk rebels' news agency said on Twitter that an "enemy" column had been "repulsed" and three soldiers from Ukraine's 25th Air Mobile Brigade had been taken prisoner. The rebels say they destroyed more than 30 vehicles in the ambush.
Graphic amateur video published on YouTube, and dated 31 July, shows a single burning military vehicle with charred and mangled bodies scattered nearby. The dead soldiers are said to be from the 25th Brigade.Graphic amateur video published on YouTube, and dated 31 July, shows a single burning military vehicle with charred and mangled bodies scattered nearby. The dead soldiers are said to be from the 25th Brigade.
On Thursday a rebel delegation held talks with officials from Ukraine, Russia and the OSCE in Minsk, capital of Belarus. The talks are to resume next week, the OSCE said in a statement. Talks between a rebel delegation and officials from Ukraine, Russia and the OSCE are to resume next week in Belarus, the OSCE said in a statement.
In a separate development, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said that long-awaited parliamentary elections will take place in the autumn.
"[Then] there will be a new parliament that will start on reforms," the president said in a televised interview.
More than 1,500 people are believed to have been killed in the conflict which erupted in east Ukraine in April, after separatists declared independence from the new government in Kiev.More than 1,500 people are believed to have been killed in the conflict which erupted in east Ukraine in April, after separatists declared independence from the new government in Kiev.
Russia, which annexed Ukraine's Crimea region in March, has been accused of arming the rebels and has been targeted by US and EU sanctions.Russia, which annexed Ukraine's Crimea region in March, has been accused of arming the rebels and has been targeted by US and EU sanctions.