system pro-Russia rebels used to
shoot down Malaysia Airlines
flight MH17 may have necessitated
the help of Russian personnel.
British and US officials have also
highlighted Russia's role in
arming the rebels who have
claimed responsibility for
attacking the flight. Ukraine
alleges that Russia assisted rebels
in destroying the evidence.
UNITED NATIONS—U.S. Ambassador
Samantha Power told an emergency
meeting of the U.N. Security Council on
Friday that the United States cannot
rule out that Russia helped in the
launch of the surface-to-air missile that
shot down a Malaysia Airlines jet over
eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 people
on board.
Power said the U.S. believes the plane
was likely downed by an SA-11 missile
fired from an area in eastern Ukraine
controlled by pro-Russian separatists.
She said Russia has provided SA-11s
and other heavy weapons to the
separatists.
Britain's U.N. Ambassador Mark Lyall
Grant, who called the emergency
meeting, was more emphatic on
assessing blame for the crash.
"It is clear where responsibility lies:
with the senseless violence of armed
separatists and with those who have
supported, equipped and advised
them," he said. "The council must be
united in condemning these actions,
and in demanding that these groups
disarm, desist from violence and
intimidation and engage in dialogue
through the democratic mechanisms
that are available to them
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld from Glo Mobile.