Investigators to release interim results on downing of MH17

Malaysian foreign ministry said on Wednesday investigators will release the interim results next Wednesday on the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, which may contain further information in the criminal perspective.

The decision was made after foreign ministers from Australia, Belgium, Malaysia, Ukraine and the Netherlands, where most of the passengers were from, met and discussed in New York about the investigative efforts, which aim to "establish justice with the regard of flight MH17 on July 17, 2014."

All 298 on board lost their lives on the plane while en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.

The Dutch Safety Board, which led a separate investigation into technical details of the crash, confirmed in last October that the aircraft crashed after being hit by a Russian-made Buk missile system, but it did not pinpoint who should be held criminally responsible for the tragedy.

According to the joint statement, foreign ministers of the five countries reiterated their "strong support" for the independent investigation team, made up of experts from the five countries.

It also said that the countries remain fully committed to take effective measures to hold those who are responsible to account. "There must be justice for the families and loved ones of those killed on MH17," it noted. Endit