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Fighting continues to hinder MH17 probe

Fighting between Kiev forces and pro-Russian separatists yesterday prevented international investigators from reaching the MH17 crash site in Ukraine for the third day running, the Dutch Justice Ministry said.

Fighting between Kiev forces and pro-Russian separatists yesterday prevented international investigators from reaching the MH17 crash site in Ukraine for the third day running, the Dutch Justice Ministry said.

“The group of Dutch and Australian experts did not leave Donetsk for the crash site in east Ukraine. There is currently too much fighting on and around the road to the crash site,” the ministry said. The police mission needs access to the site to recover the remains of some of the 298 victims still lying in the fields.

The statement came after intense fighting between Ukrainian troops and rebels in eastern Ukraine killed at least 19 civilians, local officials said.

An AFP report yesterday said Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte had asked Ukraine to stop fighting near the crash site in light of the failed attempts to gain access. Mr Rutte had made the appeal in a phone call with Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko, the report citing government spokesman Jean Fransman said.

Mr Poroshenko told Mr Rutte he would do everything possible to allow investigators access, said Mr Fransman. Agencies

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