The downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 “may amount to a war crime”, the UN said on Monday, adding that fighting in east Ukraine has claimed over 1,100 lives with both Government and rebel forces using heavy weaponry in built-up areas, even as at least eight civilians have been killed by fighting and shelling in two Ukrainian cities held by separatist militants, officials in the rebellion-wracked east said on Monday.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay condemned the “horrendous shooting down” of the Malaysian passenger jet in rebel-held territory that killed all 298 people on board, and demanded a “thorough, effective, independent and impartial investigation”.
“This violation of international law, given the prevailing circumstances, may amount to a war crime,” she said. “Every effort will be made to ensure that anyone committing serious violations of international law including war crimes will be brought to justice, no matter who they are,” Pillay said.
Meanwhile, the US has asked Russia to stop the flow of heavy weapons like rocket launchers and artillery from the country into strife-torn Ukraine. Secretary of State John Kerry stated this during a phone conversation with his Russian counterpart Sergei lavrov.