World

Under Rebel Control, Fate Of MH17 Bodies Unclear

Russian separatist rebels are reportedly limiting international investigators access to the crash site of MH17.

Under Rebel Control, Fate Of MH17 Bodies Unclear
Getty Images

Days after Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was shot down in eastern Ukraine, the fate of the victims' remains is unclear. (Via Getty Images)

As the war of information continues between the Ukranian government and Russian separatist rebels, media outlets are being caught up in conflicting reports. (Via ITV)

One thing most of the media seems to agree on: who's in charge at the crash-site. 

"Pro-Russian militants are in control here. Some show curiosity, but there's no obvious intention of recovering the bodies and securing the aircraft." (Via CNN)

"What should be a restricted crime scene? Guarded by just a few men in civilian clothes. This area is controlled by pro-Russian rebels." (Via NBC)

And most outlets are citing a Ukranian official who said close to 200 of the bodies have been accounted for, and many of those have been removed. 

The Guardian reports many of the bodies have been loaded onto refrigerated trains, but the train's conductors say they don't know where they're taking them. 

As for the investigators? After reports Friday of hostility, separatist rebels are allowing investigators from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, or OSCE, to see some of the crash site. (Via Fox News)

​But rebels on the ground argue they have to take the bodies because investigators are taking too long. (Via Getty Images)

"Several dozen experts are currently in Kiev. We're asking them, 'please, come here faster.' We're surprised and frankly angered that we have to keep the area untouched while we've been waiting for them for so long." (Via RT)

Still, most of the anger over the situation has come from the international community.

The Dutch foreign minister told Ukranian president Petro Poroshenko people in his country were furious, saying, "We are already shocked by the news we got today of bodies being dragged around, of the site not being treated properly." (Via Sky News)

All this as the hot temperatures on the ground —reportedly in the upper 80s— speed the remains' decomposition add to complications investigators are facing. (Via Getty Images

"It's a race against time and the chaos of the crime scene to determine what really happened to Flight 17. Those quiet fields we visited today have become another battlefield." (Via ABC)

Finger pointing over the crash continues as well, with British Prime Minister David Cameron the latest to join the fray on Sunday, blaming Russian President Vladimir Putin for the instability that he says led to the tragedy.