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Spotlight: Moscow, Washington adopt different stands on cause of Russian plane crash

Xinhua, November 6, 2015 Adjust font size:

Since the crash of the Russian Airbus A321 over Egypt's Sinai Peninsula last weekend, Russia and the United States have obviously adopted different attitudes towards possible cause of the accident.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday that none of the assumptions related to the crash could be confirmed yet as the investigation is still underway.

"Only the investigation may put forward some theories of the accident. We haven't had any statements from the investigation so far," Peskov was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency.

The Sinai-based group "Sinai State" that had announced loyalty to the IS said in a statement posted on Twitter that its militants managed to target the Russian plane and killed all its passengers.

It said the attack was in revenge for Russia's military operations in Syria, but Moscow has dismissed the claim as incredible.

On the other hand, U.S. President Barack Obama said on the same day that there was a "possibility" that the crashed Russian plane was caused by a bomb aboard.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said at a press briefing that the U.S. cannot rule out the possibility of "terrorist involvement" in the downing of the Russia jet.

In London, British Prime Minister David Cameron told reporters when he hosted Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi that it was "more likely than not that it was a terrorist bomb" which caused the crash.

British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond also said there existed "a significant possibility that the crash was caused by an explosive device on board the aircraft."

Besides speculation on possible cause of the plane crash, some other countries have also expressed worries about the safety of flights over the routes concerned.

France urged travelers to avoid the Sinai Peninsula after the Russian plane allegedly exploded in mid-air after leaving the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh killing all 224 people on board, a government official said on Thursday.

French Foreign Ministry Spokesman Romain Nadal said the ministry's advice to French travellers going abroad was "updated according to changing conditions on the ground."

The British government decided to delay flights due to leave Sharm el-Sheikh for Britain on Wednesday evening.

10 Downing Street said it made the announcement as a precautionary measure.

The Egyptian authorities voiced concern and unhappiness on Thursday about the British suspension of flights in the light of the tragedy.

"The Egyptian Tourism Ministry regrets the decision of the British government to suspend its flights to Sharm el-Sheikh and to link the decision to the recent Russian plane crash," the ministry's spokeswoman Rasha al-Azaizi said in a statement.

China and some other countries have extended condolences over the deaths in the crash.

"The Chinese people stand side by side with the Russian people at this sorrowful moment," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said on Monday.

The Russian airliner crashed in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula on Saturday while heading from Sharm Sheikh airport to St. Petersburg. All 224 people on board, mostly Russian tourists, were killed. Endi