Missile downed Malaysian jet: US

As Malaysian investigators headed to the scene of downed flight MH17, the UN Security Council's called an emergency session to discuss the disaster.

President Barack Obama has warned evidence among scattered debris must not be tampered with and has called for an unimpeded and prompt investigation.

Comments attributed to a pro-Russia rebel chief suggested his men may have downed flight MH17 by mistake, believing it was a Ukrainian army transport plane.

But Russian President Vladimir Putin says Kiev bears full responsibility for the crash, saying Ukraine's crackdown on

separatist rebels stoked tensions that led to the disaster.

At least 27 Australian died among the 298 victims of the crash in eastern Ukraine.

The disaster comes just months after Malaysia's Flight MH370 disappeared on March 8 with 239 on board.