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ROZSYPNE, Ukraine (AP) — World leaders are demanding that pro-Russia rebels who control the eastern Ukraine crash site of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 give immediate, unfettered access to independent investigators.
The first international investigators at the scene weren't given full access. The delegation, mostly from Europe, was allowed to make just a partial, superficial inspection, before being ordered to leave -- an order that was enforced with a warning shot from a rifle.
The monitors found the bodies of victims strewn on the ground in the crash area, which covers eight square miles between two villages near the Russian border.
U.S. officials say the plane, with 298 passengers and crew, was likely brought down by a ground-to-air missile.
The White House and the Kremlin are both calling for peace talks between Ukraine and the separatists. But heavy fighting was reported less than 60 miles from the crash site today, with an estimated 20 civilians reported killed.
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248-a-10-(Hank Hughes, retired senior accident investigator, National Transportation Safety Board, in AP interview)-"a proper investigation"-Retired NTSB senior accident investigator Hank Hughes says a lot of things are working against investigators in Ukraine. (18 Jul 2014)
<<CUT *248 (07/18/14)££ 00:10 "a proper investigation"
247-a-19-(Hank Hughes, retired senior accident investigator, National Transportation Safety Board, in AP interview)-"on the airplane"-Retired NTSB senior accident investigator Hank Hughes says having the black boxes makes a big difference in an investigation. ((note length of cut)) (18 Jul 2014)
<<CUT *247 (07/18/14)££ 00:19 "on the airplane"
250-a-08-(Hank Hughes, retired senior accident investigator, National Transportation Safety Board, in AP interview)-"investigation can begin"-Retired NSTB senior accident investigator Hank Hughes says it may be a while before investigators actually can do their jobs. Updated: 07/18/2014-05:31:18 PM ET (18 Jul 2014)
<<CUT *250 (07/18/14)££ 00:08 "investigation can begin"
249-a-13-(Hank Hughes, retired senior accident investigator, National Transportation Safety Board, in AP interview)-"a proper investigation"-Retired NTSB senior accident investigator Hank Hughes says the crash site has probably been compromised. ((note background noise in cut)) Updated: 07/18/2014-05:31:18 PM ET (18 Jul 2014)
<<CUT *249 (07/18/14)££ 00:13 "a proper investigation"
APPHOTO XDL124: A policeman inspects the site of a crashed Malaysia Airlines passenger plane near the village of Rozsypne, Ukraine, eastern Ukraine Friday, July 18, 2014. Rescue workers, policemen and even off-duty coal miners were combing a sprawling area in eastern Ukraine near the Russian border where the Malaysian plane ended up in burning pieces Thursday, killing all aboard. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky) (18 Jul 2014)
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APPHOTO XDL128: A pro-Russian fighter holds up a toy found among the debris at the crash site of a Malaysia Airlines jet near the village of Hrabove, eastern Ukraine, Friday, July 18, 2014. Emergency workers, police officers and even off-duty coal miners spread out Friday across the sunflower fields and villages of eastern Ukraine, searching the wreckage of a Malaysia Airlines jet shot down as it flew high above the country, killing all aboard. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky) (18 Jul 2014)
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APPHOTO XDL125: Rescue workers walk at the site of a crashed Malaysia Airlines passenger plane near the village of Hrabove, Ukraine, eastern Ukraine Friday, July 18, 2014. Rescue workers, policemen and even off-duty coal miners were combing a sprawling area in eastern Ukraine near the Russian border where the Malaysian plane ended up in burning pieces Thursday, killing all aboard. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky) (18 Jul 2014)
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APPHOTO MOSB117: Representatives from the OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) delegation arrive, centre, as Pro-Russia fighters provide security, at the crash site of a Malaysia Airlines passenger jet near the village of Hrabove, eastern Ukraine, Friday, July 18, 2014. Representatives from OSCE and four Ukrainian experts have traveled into rebel-controlled areas to begin an investigation into the downing of the Malaysia Airlines plane on Wednesday and the deaths of all its passengers and crew. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky) (18 Jul 2014)
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