UN-SC unanimously condemns MH17 downing, demands access to crash site

UNITED NATIONS/UNITED STATES: With the backing of Russia, the UN Security Council on Monday unanimously adopted a resolution condemning the downing of the Malaysian passenger jet and demanded crash site access in rebel-held east Ukraine.

Australia took the lead in drafting the resolution that was adopted after some changes were made to satisfy Moscow.

The measure called for a full, independent international investigation of the Malaysia Airlines plane disaster and demanded that those responsible face justice.

"We must have answers. We must have justice," Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop told the 15-member Council.

#UNSC unanimously adopts resolution 2166 demanding unhindered access to the crash site of the Malaysia Flight #MH17 pic.twitter.com/v2b22aFd3x

— Permanent Mission of Rwanda to The United Nations (@RwandaUN) July 21, 2014

On July 17, a Malaysian air MH17 with 298 passengers onboard, was shot down over eastern Ukraine.

The plane, a Boeing 777-200, lost contact with the control tower over Donetsk, Ukraine and came down in a region where Ukrainian government forces are battling pro-Russian rebels.

Observers and officials have been urging rebels to provide access to the crash site so that the bodies of the victims can be recovered and investigators can examine the wreckage of downed aircraft.