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Malaysia PM Says MH17 Investigation Close To Completion

Smoke rises above the site of the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane crash near the settlement of Hrabove in the Donetsk region on July 17.
1/15 Smoke rises above the site of the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane crash near the settlement of Hrabove in the Donetsk region on July 17.
On July 17 the world was shocked by the news that Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, a scheduled international passenger connection between Amsterdam and Kuala Lumpur, had been shot down over eastern Ukraine. It is believed to have been hit with a BUK surface-to-air missile. The aircraft went down near the village of Hrabove in an area controlled by pro-Russian separatists. All 283 passengers and 15 crew on board the Boeing 777-200ER airliner died in the tragic incident.
Part of the wreckage of the passenger jet which was strewn over an area of several miles. 
2/15 Part of the wreckage of the passenger jet which was strewn over an area of several miles. 
On July 17 the world was shocked by the news that Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, a scheduled international passenger connection between Amsterdam and Kuala Lumpur, had been shot down over eastern Ukraine. It is believed to have been hit with a BUK surface-to-air missile. The aircraft went down near the village of Hrabove in an area controlled by pro-Russian separatists. All 283 passengers and 15 crew on board the Boeing 777-200ER airliner died in the tragic incident.
An armed pro-Russian separatist stands at one of the main crash sites on July 17.
3/15 An armed pro-Russian separatist stands at one of the main crash sites on July 17.
On July 17 the world was shocked by the news that Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, a scheduled international passenger connection between Amsterdam and Kuala Lumpur, had been shot down over eastern Ukraine. It is believed to have been hit with a BUK surface-to-air missile. The aircraft went down near the village of Hrabove in an area controlled by pro-Russian separatists. All 283 passengers and 15 crew on board the Boeing 777-200ER airliner died in the tragic incident.
Another pro-Russian separatist looks at wreckage from the nose section of the airliner near the village of Rozsypne on July 18. 
4/15 Another pro-Russian separatist looks at wreckage from the nose section of the airliner near the village of Rozsypne on July 18. 
On July 17 the world was shocked by the news that Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, a scheduled international passenger connection between Amsterdam and Kuala Lumpur, had been shot down over eastern Ukraine. It is believed to have been hit with a BUK surface-to-air missile. The aircraft went down near the village of Hrabove in an area controlled by pro-Russian separatists. All 283 passengers and 15 crew on board the Boeing 777-200ER airliner died in the tragic incident.
A white flag marks the location of the remnants of a body at a crash site on July 18. 
5/15 A white flag marks the location of the remnants of a body at a crash site on July 18. 
On July 17 the world was shocked by the news that Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, a scheduled international passenger connection between Amsterdam and Kuala Lumpur, had been shot down over eastern Ukraine. It is believed to have been hit with a BUK surface-to-air missile. The aircraft went down near the village of Hrabove in an area controlled by pro-Russian separatists. All 283 passengers and 15 crew on board the Boeing 777-200ER airliner died in the tragic incident.
A journalist takes photographs at a crash site on July 18.
6/15 A journalist takes photographs at a crash site on July 18.
On July 17 the world was shocked by the news that Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, a scheduled international passenger connection between Amsterdam and Kuala Lumpur, had been shot down over eastern Ukraine. It is believed to have been hit with a BUK surface-to-air missile. The aircraft went down near the village of Hrabove in an area controlled by pro-Russian separatists. All 283 passengers and 15 crew on board the Boeing 777-200ER airliner died in the tragic incident.
A local resident stands amid the wreckage at one of the crash sites near Hrabove on July 19.
7/15 A local resident stands amid the wreckage at one of the crash sites near Hrabove on July 19.
On July 17 the world was shocked by the news that Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, a scheduled international passenger connection between Amsterdam and Kuala Lumpur, had been shot down over eastern Ukraine. It is believed to have been hit with a BUK surface-to-air missile. The aircraft went down near the village of Hrabove in an area controlled by pro-Russian separatists. All 283 passengers and 15 crew on board the Boeing 777-200ER airliner died in the tragic incident.
Passengers' personal belongings and luggage amid the debris of the Boeing 777 jet. 
8/15 Passengers' personal belongings and luggage amid the debris of the Boeing 777 jet. 
On July 17 the world was shocked by the news that Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, a scheduled international passenger connection between Amsterdam and Kuala Lumpur, had been shot down over eastern Ukraine. It is believed to have been hit with a BUK surface-to-air missile. The aircraft went down near the village of Hrabove in an area controlled by pro-Russian separatists. All 283 passengers and 15 crew on board the Boeing 777-200ER airliner died in the tragic incident.
A pro-Russian separatist holds a child's stuffed toy found at one of the crash sites.
9/15 A pro-Russian separatist holds a child's stuffed toy found at one of the crash sites.
On July 17 the world was shocked by the news that Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, a scheduled international passenger connection between Amsterdam and Kuala Lumpur, had been shot down over eastern Ukraine. It is believed to have been hit with a BUK surface-to-air missile. The aircraft went down near the village of Hrabove in an area controlled by pro-Russian separatists. All 283 passengers and 15 crew on board the Boeing 777-200ER airliner died in the tragic incident.
The pro-Russian self-styled governor of the breakaway Donetsk republic Pavel Gubarev (center) arrives to inspect one of the main crash sites.
10/15 The pro-Russian self-styled governor of the breakaway Donetsk republic Pavel Gubarev (center) arrives to inspect one of the main crash sites.
On July 17 the world was shocked by the news that Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, a scheduled international passenger connection between Amsterdam and Kuala Lumpur, had been shot down over eastern Ukraine. It is believed to have been hit with a BUK surface-to-air missile. The aircraft went down near the village of Hrabove in an area controlled by pro-Russian separatists. All 283 passengers and 15 crew on board the Boeing 777-200ER airliner died in the tragic incident.
Armed pro-Russian militants walk past a large piece of wreckage in a field near Donetsk.
11/15 Armed pro-Russian militants walk past a large piece of wreckage in a field near Donetsk.
On July 17 the world was shocked by the news that Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, a scheduled international passenger connection between Amsterdam and Kuala Lumpur, had been shot down over eastern Ukraine. It is believed to have been hit with a BUK surface-to-air missile. The aircraft went down near the village of Hrabove in an area controlled by pro-Russian separatists. All 283 passengers and 15 crew on board the Boeing 777-200ER airliner died in the tragic incident.
OSCE monitors speak with a pro-Russian separatist about gaining access to a crash site near Hrabove on July 18. 
12/15 OSCE monitors speak with a pro-Russian separatist about gaining access to a crash site near Hrabove on July 18. 
On July 17 the world was shocked by the news that Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, a scheduled international passenger connection between Amsterdam and Kuala Lumpur, had been shot down over eastern Ukraine. It is believed to have been hit with a BUK surface-to-air missile. The aircraft went down near the village of Hrabove in an area controlled by pro-Russian separatists. All 283 passengers and 15 crew on board the Boeing 777-200ER airliner died in the tragic incident.
Ukrainian rescue workers carry the body of a victim away from a crash site on a stretcher through a wheat field near Hrabove on July 19. 
13/15 Ukrainian rescue workers carry the body of a victim away from a crash site on a stretcher through a wheat field near Hrabove on July 19. 
On July 17 the world was shocked by the news that Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, a scheduled international passenger connection between Amsterdam and Kuala Lumpur, had been shot down over eastern Ukraine. It is believed to have been hit with a BUK surface-to-air missile. The aircraft went down near the village of Hrabove in an area controlled by pro-Russian separatists. All 283 passengers and 15 crew on board the Boeing 777-200ER airliner died in the tragic incident.
OSCE monitors and journalists look on as a pro-Russian separatist stands guard near bodies taken from a crash site. 
14/15 OSCE monitors and journalists look on as a pro-Russian separatist stands guard near bodies taken from a crash site. 
On July 17 the world was shocked by the news that Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, a scheduled international passenger connection between Amsterdam and Kuala Lumpur, had been shot down over eastern Ukraine. It is believed to have been hit with a BUK surface-to-air missile. The aircraft went down near the village of Hrabove in an area controlled by pro-Russian separatists. All 283 passengers and 15 crew on board the Boeing 777-200ER airliner died in the tragic incident.
People hold candles during a candlelight vigil for victims of the downed Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, in Kuala Lumpur on July 19. 
15/15 People hold candles during a candlelight vigil for victims of the downed Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, in Kuala Lumpur on July 19. 
On July 17 the world was shocked by the news that Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, a scheduled international passenger connection between Amsterdam and Kuala Lumpur, had been shot down over eastern Ukraine. It is believed to have been hit with a BUK surface-to-air missile. The aircraft went down near the village of Hrabove in an area controlled by pro-Russian separatists. All 283 passengers and 15 crew on board the Boeing 777-200ER airliner died in the tragic incident.
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Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak says the investigation into the downing last year of a Malaysian passenger airliner over eastern Ukraine is "really close to naming those guilty."

Speaking at a commemoration in Kuala Lumpur to mark the first anniversary of the July 17, 2014, tragedy that left 298 people dead, the prime minister said on July 11 that the investigation is "expected to be finished at the end of 2015 at least."

"We call on all nations concerned to provide the fullest cooperation, so that we will be able to gather irrefutable evidence as to what happened and especially as to who were responsible for this unforgivable incident," Najib said.

Malaysia and other countries participating in the Joint Investigation Team -- Australia, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Ukraine -- are pushing for the establishment of a UN-mandated international tribunal to prosecute those accused of shooting down the plane.

Russia said on July 9 that it would oppose such a resolution.

Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was traveling from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it was shot down over eastern Ukraine over the zone where the Ukrainian government is battling Russia-backed separatists.

Kyiv says the plane was downed by separatists using a surface-to-air missile system provided to them by Moscow. Russia says the Ukrainian military shot down MH17.

"Closure to this incident is absolutely vital," Najib said on July 11, "so that all the relatives of victims can continue with their lives. Therefore, the ultimate action of finding who were responsible and bringing them to justice must be carried out."

Based on reporting by AFP and ITAR-TASS
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