UN chief Ban urges full probe of Malaysia plane crash

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for a full international investigation of the Malaysia Airlines disaster in east Ukraine.

"There is clearly a need for a full, transparent and international investigation," Ban told reporters yesterday. He offered condolences to the victims' families.

Malaysian Airlines flight MH17, carrying nearly 300 people from Amsterdam en route to Kuala Lumpur crashed earlier in rebel-held eastern Ukraine near the Russian border, with Kiev saying it was shot down in a "terrorist" attack.

US officials said it was shot down by a surface-to-air missile but it was unclear who fired the weapon.

Britain has called for a UN-led investigation and is seeking an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss the crisis in eastern Ukraine.