Dutch anger swells at treatment of Ukraine bodies

A Schiphol security worker, at left, signs a condolence register at Schiphol airport in Amsterdam, Sunday, July 20, 2014. An attack on a Malaysian jetliner shot down over Ukraine on Thursday killed 298 people from nearly a dozen nations, more than half being Dutch. Worshippers at church services across the Netherlands prayed Sunday for the victims of the Ukraine air disaster and their next of kin, as anger built over the separatist rebels' hindering of the investigation into the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17. (AP Photo/Patrick Post) A Schiphol security worker, at left, signs a condolence register at Schiphol airport in Amsterdam, Sunday, July 20, 2014. An attack on a Malaysian jetliner shot down over Ukraine on Thursday killed 298 people from nearly a dozen nations, more than half being Dutch. Worshippers at church services across the Netherlands prayed Sunday for the victims of the Ukraine air disaster and their next of kin, as anger built over the separatist rebels' hindering of the investigation into the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17. (AP Photo/Patrick Post)

By Associated Press July 21, 2014 1 min read

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) – Relatives of Dutch victims killed in the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 are meeting with their king, queen and prime minister amid growing anger at the treatment of their loved ones’ bodies by pro-Russian rebels in Ukraine.

Before the meeting Monday afternoon, Prime Minister Mark Rutte briefed lawmakers about his government’s response to Thursday’s disaster that claimed 193 Dutch lives.

Rutte says he has made it “crystal clear” to Russian President Vladimir Putin that he must use his influence with rebels to ensure unhindered access to the crash scene for international investigators.

He says sanctions could be slapped on “those directly or indirectly responsible” for hindering the probe if access is restricted in coming days.

Rutte says “all political, economic and financial options are on the table.”