The Kyiv Post has a transcript of a phone conversation, which according to Ukraine's security service, the SBU, is between a separatist commander and a Russian military official. Another leaked conversation is purportedly between separatists:
Igor Bezler: We have just shot down a plane. Group Minera. It fell down beyond Yenakievo (Donetsk Oblast).
Vasili Geranin: Pilots. Where are the pilots?
IB: Gone to search for and photograph the plane. Its smoking.
VG: How many minutes ago?
IB: About 30 minutes ago.
SBU comment: After examining the site of the plane the terrorists come to the conclusion that they have shot down a civilian plane. The next part of the conversation took place about 40 minutes later.
“Major”: These are Chernukhin folks who shot down the plane. From the Chernukhin check point. Those cossacks who are based in Chernukhino.
“Grek”: Yes, Major.
"Major": The plane fell apart in the air. In the area of Petropavlovskaya mine. The first “200” (code word for dead person). We have found the first “200”. A Civilian.
“Greek”: Well, what do you have there?
“Major”: In short, it was 100 percent a passenger (civilian) aircraft.
“Greek”: Are many people there?
“Major”: Holy sh__t! The debris fell right into the yards (of homes).
“Greek”: What kind of aircraft?
“Major”: I haven’t ascertained this. I haven’t been to the main sight. I am only surveying the scene where the first bodies fell. There are the remains of internal brackets, seats and bodies.
“Greek”: Is there anything left of the weapon?
“Major”: Absolutely nothing. Civilian items, medicinal stuff, towels, toilet paper.
“Greek”: Are there documents?
“Major”: Yes, of one Indonesian student. From a university in Thompson.
BREAKING: U.S. President Barack Obama says the crash of a Malaysian airliner in eastern Ukraine "looks like it may be a terrible tragedy."
Obama, in his first public comments on the July 17 crash of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, said U.S. officials were working to determine whether there were American citizens on board.
He added that he had directed his national security team to stay in "close contact" with the Ukrainian government.
He said that the U.S. will offer any assistance to determine the cause of the crash.
Obama said that the "thoughts and prayers" of the United States were with the families of the passengers aboard the plane.
His comments came at the start of a previously scheduled event in Wilmington, Delaware.
RT are going big on this story now, saying it's a big development.
From our news desk:
Several international airlines announced their planes will avoid flying over Ukraine after a Malaysia Airlines passenger plane came down in the east of the country where government forces are fighting pro-Russian separatists.
Ukraine's military and the separatists have blamed each other for shooting down the plane.
Germany's Lufthansa, Russia's Aeroflot, and Turkish Airlines were among the major airlines saying they will divert their flights
The French government advised French airline companies to also avoid Ukrainian airspace.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said he was urgently returning to the Netherlands from an EU summit in Brussels to deal with the crisis.
The Malaysian airliner, which had 295 people onboard, had been on a flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Agency had told U.S. airliners in April to avoid flying over eastern Ukraine.