Sydney: The loss of a second Malaysia Airlines plane within six months left Asia-Pacific nations shocked and saddened on Friday, prompting calls for a full investigation and a day of mourning in Australia.
All 298 people on board Flight MH17 en route to Kuala Lumpur from Amsterdam died when the plane crashed near a Ukrainian village on Thursday, leaving a trail of carnage on the ground. American officials believe it was shot down over Ukrainian airspace.
Among those on the plane were 12 Indonesians, and that country's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said if the plane was shot at with military weapons, it was a violation of international law and "even the laws of war".
He urged Indonesians to avoid flights over war and conflict zones, including Ukraine, the Ukraine-Russia border and the Gaza Strip.
"As things stand this looks less like an accident than a crime," Abbott told parliament, following an emergency meeting of the government's national security committee.
A service marking a national day of mourning would be held at a later time "when the families of those who have lost their lives have had time to comprehend this horrific event", he added.
Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it stood in solidarity with its neighbour Malaysia, which is still reeling from the loss of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 due to unknown causes in March.
"It is important that a full and transparent investigation take place to establish what caused the crash," the ministry said of the latest incident.
A British woman who was a long-time resident of New Zealand was also among the victims, he added.
"We call for independent investigators to be allowed access to the crash site," McCully said in a statement.
All 298 people on board Flight MH17 en route to Kuala Lumpur from Amsterdam died when the plane crashed near a Ukrainian village on Thursday, leaving a trail of carnage on the ground. American officials believe it was shot down over Ukrainian airspace.
Among those on the plane were 12 Indonesians, and that country's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said if the plane was shot at with military weapons, it was a violation of international law and "even the laws of war".
He urged Indonesians to avoid flights over war and conflict zones, including Ukraine, the Ukraine-Russia border and the Gaza Strip.
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"As things stand this looks less like an accident than a crime," Abbott told parliament, following an emergency meeting of the government's national security committee.
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A service marking a national day of mourning would be held at a later time "when the families of those who have lost their lives have had time to comprehend this horrific event", he added.
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Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it stood in solidarity with its neighbour Malaysia, which is still reeling from the loss of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 due to unknown causes in March.
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"It is important that a full and transparent investigation take place to establish what caused the crash," the ministry said of the latest incident.
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A British woman who was a long-time resident of New Zealand was also among the victims, he added.
"We call for independent investigators to be allowed access to the crash site," McCully said in a statement.
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