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Dutch Shift Priority In MH17 Crash To Investigating Culprits


Dutch and Malaysian investigators work at the MH17 plane crash site near the village of Hrabove on April 16.
Dutch and Malaysian investigators work at the MH17 plane crash site near the village of Hrabove on April 16.

The Netherlands says that, with nearly all of the victims of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 identified, efforts has shifted to finding those responsible for shooting the plane down over Ukraine last year.

Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders said on April 16, "Now that we're very far with repatriation [of the victims' remains], investigation and prosecution are becoming more central."

Meanwhile, Dutch experts said they recovered more body parts and personal belongings from the crash site after searching a location previously considered unsafe because of fighting between pro-Russian separatists and government forces.

The passenger jet was shot down on July 17, killing all 298 people on board, most of them Dutch.

Last month, Dutch media reported that a metal fragment from the crash site matches a Russian-made rocket.

Russia has suggested that the airliner was downed by the Ukrainian military.

Based on reporting by Reuters, AFP, and dpa

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