This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-33815009
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| MH370: France launches searches around Reunion | MH370: France launches searches around Reunion |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| France has launched air, land and sea searches on and around the island of Reunion in the hope of finding more debris which could be linked to MH370. | France has launched air, land and sea searches on and around the island of Reunion in the hope of finding more debris which could be linked to MH370. |
| Malaysia has said a wing section found on the French Indian Ocean island came from the lost Malaysia Airlines flight. | Malaysia has said a wing section found on the French Indian Ocean island came from the lost Malaysia Airlines flight. |
| But French investigators have yet to confirm the link. | |
| The relatives of the passengers - who were mostly Chinese - have protested at the Malaysian embassy in Beijing. | The relatives of the passengers - who were mostly Chinese - have protested at the Malaysian embassy in Beijing. |
| Flight MH370 was travelling from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on 8 March 2014 when it vanished from radar. The Boeing 777 had 239 people on board. | Flight MH370 was travelling from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on 8 March 2014 when it vanished from radar. The Boeing 777 had 239 people on board. |
| Does debris solve the MH370 mystery? | Does debris solve the MH370 mystery? |
| Relatives: 'They won't tell us the truth' | Relatives: 'They won't tell us the truth' |
| The families of those aboard have been angered by the apparent discrepancies in statements by French and Malaysian officials, and have accused the authorities of hiding the truth. | The families of those aboard have been angered by the apparent discrepancies in statements by French and Malaysian officials, and have accused the authorities of hiding the truth. |
| On Friday, they held a protest outside Malaysia Airlines' offices in Beijing, before scuffling with police at the gates of the Malaysian embassy. | On Friday, they held a protest outside Malaysia Airlines' offices in Beijing, before scuffling with police at the gates of the Malaysian embassy. |
| Lu Zhanzhong, whose son was aboard the plane, told AFP news agency that the families wanted to go to Reunion to "see the truth". | Lu Zhanzhong, whose son was aboard the plane, told AFP news agency that the families wanted to go to Reunion to "see the truth". |
| "I want to see if my son's luggage is there," he said. | "I want to see if my son's luggage is there," he said. |
| At the scene: John Sudworth, Beijing | At the scene: John Sudworth, Beijing |
| On one level, you could argue, it is simply a refusal to accept the obvious. | On one level, you could argue, it is simply a refusal to accept the obvious. |
| The evidence after all is strong; the satellite data shows the flight ended in the southern Indian Ocean and now the debris find - matching the sea current patterns - adds further corroboration. | The evidence after all is strong; the satellite data shows the flight ended in the southern Indian Ocean and now the debris find - matching the sea current patterns - adds further corroboration. |
| But the unwillingness of many of the Chinese relatives to believe that conclusion is not as illogical as it sounds. | But the unwillingness of many of the Chinese relatives to believe that conclusion is not as illogical as it sounds. |
| There are indeed real question marks over the way the Malaysian authorities have handled both the search for the plane and the release of information - marred by delay, confusion and apparent self-interest. | There are indeed real question marks over the way the Malaysian authorities have handled both the search for the plane and the release of information - marred by delay, confusion and apparent self-interest. |
| And here in China too, the families feel there is no-one they can trust. There are no independent media voices campaigning on their behalf or doggedly pursuing the truth. | And here in China too, the families feel there is no-one they can trust. There are no independent media voices campaigning on their behalf or doggedly pursuing the truth. |
| Their own attempts to demand answers have been met with the usual control and harassment by plain-clothes policemen. | Their own attempts to demand answers have been met with the usual control and harassment by plain-clothes policemen. |
| Bewildered and despairing, it is perhaps little wonder that some find comfort in the myriad conspiracy theories swirling online; that the plane might not be at the bottom of the ocean and that their loved ones might still be alive. | Bewildered and despairing, it is perhaps little wonder that some find comfort in the myriad conspiracy theories swirling online; that the plane might not be at the bottom of the ocean and that their loved ones might still be alive. |
| 'Shed light on this tragedy' | 'Shed light on this tragedy' |
| The French government said in a statement that a military Casa aircraft was to begin surveying the area around Reunion on Friday morning, along with helicopter and boat patrols and search teams on foot. | The French government said in a statement that a military Casa aircraft was to begin surveying the area around Reunion on Friday morning, along with helicopter and boat patrols and search teams on foot. |
| Saying it recognised the pain for the families, the statement (in French) said France would play its full part in international efforts to "shed light on this tragedy". | Saying it recognised the pain for the families, the statement (in French) said France would play its full part in international efforts to "shed light on this tragedy". |
| The wing section found on Reunion, known as a flaperon, is being examined in the French city of Toulouse by international aviation experts. | The wing section found on Reunion, known as a flaperon, is being examined in the French city of Toulouse by international aviation experts. |
| Malaysian Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai said paint and "many other technical details" on the flaperon tallied with MH370's maintenance records. | Malaysian Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai said paint and "many other technical details" on the flaperon tallied with MH370's maintenance records. |
| Window panes and seat cushions found near Reunion had yet to be identified, he said. | Window panes and seat cushions found near Reunion had yet to be identified, he said. |
| However, a spokesman for the Australian Deputy Prime Minister, Warren Truss, said none of the new debris appeared to have come from MH370. Australia is leading the maritime search for MH370. | However, a spokesman for the Australian Deputy Prime Minister, Warren Truss, said none of the new debris appeared to have come from MH370. Australia is leading the maritime search for MH370. |
| French officials, moreover, have said no other debris has been recovered. They have also said there was only a strong possibility that the flaperon had come from MH370 - avoiding the firm link made by the Malaysians. | French officials, moreover, have said no other debris has been recovered. They have also said there was only a strong possibility that the flaperon had come from MH370 - avoiding the firm link made by the Malaysians. |
| Mr Liow said he understood why the French team had been less categorical in their conclusions over the flaperon, saying: "We respect their decision to continue with their verification." | Mr Liow said he understood why the French team had been less categorical in their conclusions over the flaperon, saying: "We respect their decision to continue with their verification." |
| He added that differences between the countries' statements were down to "a choice of words". | He added that differences between the countries' statements were down to "a choice of words". |
| China's foreign ministry said Malaysia must keep investigating the crash and "safeguard the legitimate rights and interests" of relatives. | China's foreign ministry said Malaysia must keep investigating the crash and "safeguard the legitimate rights and interests" of relatives. |
| The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has been co-ordinating the deep-sea hunt in the southern Indian Ocean, where the plane is believed to have gone down, thousands of miles east of Reunion. | The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has been co-ordinating the deep-sea hunt in the southern Indian Ocean, where the plane is believed to have gone down, thousands of miles east of Reunion. |
| Prime Minister Tony Abbott said that the search would continue as "we owe it to the hundreds of millions of people who use our skies". | Prime Minister Tony Abbott said that the search would continue as "we owe it to the hundreds of millions of people who use our skies". |
| Simulation of where debris in search area could end up | Simulation of where debris in search area could end up |