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Canada to impose further Russia sanctions

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper will impose further sanctions against Russia as a result of the crash of flight MH17 in Ukraine.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper
Canada's Prime Minister Harper has announced further economic sanctions against Russian interests. (AAP)

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Canada's prime minister has announced further economic sanctions against Russian entities and individuals, calling the downing of flight MH17 a "direct product of Russia's military aggression and illegal occupation" of Ukraine.

Stephen Harper also called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to order a withdrawal of his troops from the border with Ukraine, stop a flow of weapons and militants into the country, urge separatist rebels to lay down their arms and allow investigators access to the crash site.

The Malaysia Airlines airliner was blown out of the sky on Thursday by what is believed to be a surface-to-air missile, killing 298 passengers and crew and dramatically raising the stakes in Ukraine's bloody three-month conflict.

Kiev has blamed the rebels, citing photographs of anti-aircraft missile systems being moved from rebel-held territory into Russia less than 12 hours after the crash, and an intercepted call between an insurgent commander and a Russian intelligence officer.

"The outrageous and criminal act of shooting down a civilian airliner last week is a direct product of Russia's military aggression and illegal occupation of Ukraine, and demonstrates the need for the international community to continue applying pressure on the Putin regime," Harper said in a statement.

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The sanctions "against a broad range of entities related to various Russian sectors" follow consultations and coordination with Canada's allies, Harper added.

Details of the sanctions were to be unveiled later on Monday.

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said a list of "sectoral sanctions against the Russian federation" have also been compiled, but Ottawa would await European Union and United States moves before making them public.

His EU counterparts are scheduled to meet on Tuesday to discuss ramping up pressure on Russia.


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