Shadow Foreign Secretary Douglas Alexander MP, supporting calls for a united diplomatic response to the Malaysia Airlines crash developments, said:

“News that Russian-backed Ukrainian separatists are denying crash investigators access to the site is a deeply troubling, if not altogether unexpected, development.

“The families of the victims are being denied dignity for their loved ones, and risk being denied justice if the evidence is disturbed and investigation is hampered.

“It is already clear that Russia has very serious questions to answer about their involvement, responsibility and response to these latest events.

“Russia has sought to paint this as a conflict between Russia and the West, but the harrowing events unfolding across the fields of Eastern Ukraine make this an issue of human decency not political difference.

“The British government is right to seek urgent action at tomorrow’s UN Security Council and to call for further measures to be agreed at the EU Foreign Ministers meeting on Tuesday.

“And the British government is right to call for a united international diplomatic response, and has our support in endeavouring to achieve this.”

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