Australia urges UN support for tribunal to prosecute MH17 perpetrators

Australia has called on the United Nations Security Council to support the establishment of an international tribunal to prosecute those involved in the downing of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 in conflict-torn east Ukraine last year.

Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop said setting up a tribunal would send a clear message that the international community will not tolerate acts that threaten world peace and security by endangering civil aviation, reported The Guardian.

The statement came a week after Malaysia, which is a part of the UNSC until 2016, distributed a draft resolution on the tribunal, which has been proposed jointly by Australia, the Netherlands, Belgium and Ukraine.

However, the move has been dismissed by Russia, which is a veto-wielding permanent member on the 15-member council and can block the proposal if it is put to vote.

The aircraft was shot using a surface-to-air missile over a year ago, killing all 298 onboard.