BREAKING: Vice President Joe Biden said during a speech in Detroit that the jet was shot down, "not an accident, blown out of the sky."
More from our news desk on the alleged recordings:
Ukraine's security services have published what they said were two intercepted telephone conversations that they said proved rebels were responsible for downing a Malaysian airliner.
In the first recording, the security services said, rebel commander Igor Bezler tells a Russian military intelligence officer that rebel forces shot down a plane July 17.
In the second, two rebel fighters -- one of them at the scene of the crash -- say the attack was carried out by a unit of insurgents about 25 kilometers north of the crash site.
Neither recording could be independently verified.
Ukraine's state security (SBU) chief Valentyn Nalivaychenko said, "We will do everything for the Russian military who carried out this crime to be punished."
The self-styled prime minister of the self-declared "Donetsk People's Republic," Aleksandr Borodai, has been quoted by the Russian news agency RIA-Novosti as saying that pro-Russia rebels intend to call a three-day cease fire to allow an investigation of the crash of a Malaysian airliner.
He said international organizations would be allowed into the conflict-plagued region.
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.