M'sia To Pursue Options In Seeking Justice For MH17 Victims - Foreign Minister

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 1 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has vowed to continue exploring other legal options to bring the culprits behind the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 to justice. The pledge by Malaysia's Foreign Minister Anifah Aman came against the backdrop of Russia's veto of a United Nations Security Council draft resolution on Wednesday that would have created an international tribunal to prosecute those involved. The minister said such options included the use of a hybrid legal system and those of individual countries for prosecution purposes. "We remain steadfast in our determination to pursue accountability among the perpetrators and ensure justice for the victims on board MH17," he told a media briefing ahead of the 48th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM) and Related Meetings at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) here Friday. "We've discussed the options extensively, but we haven't yet come up with a decision, which mechanism (to use)," he said. Anifah, however, said he was mindful of the complexities involved in the prosecution efforts. He also called on the international community to continue to support the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) into the plane crash that killed 298 people aboard. Russia had vetoed the draft for the setting up of the tribunal, with 11 of the 15-member Security Council having voted in its favour. China, Angola and Venezuela abstained. The Kuala Lumpur-bound flight from Amsterdam was believed to have been shot down near Donetsk in eastern Ukraine. -- BERNAMA