Forensics team identifies second MH17 victim

A second body from the MH17 crash has been identified by the forensics team, reported a Dutch newspaper which quoted the Ministry of Justice and Security.

The web portal Algemeen Dagblad reported that the body was identified as a Dutch national.

"The family members and the mayor of the town the victim lived in have been informed," the paper reported.

Just like the first victim who was identified on July 26 who was also a Dutch, the identity or the gender of the second victim will not be revealed.

The identification process of all 227 bodies, which was moved from the crash site in eastern Ukraine to the Netherlands, is being carried out in Hilversum military barracks. It involves around 200 international experts including those from Malaysia.

The Malaysia Airlines (MAS) Flight MH17's Boeing-777 crashed on July 17 and is believed to have been shot down.

It carried 298 passengers and crew which includes 42 Malaysian nationals and 196 Dutch passengers on board.

Meanwhile, forensics experts from the Netherlands and Australia have entered the crash site to collect evidence and remains of victims which have not been collected yet.

The Dutch portal reported that Donetsk rebels have handed over 25 "DNA samples" and 27 passenger items to the Dutch experts.

Donetsk is being occupied by militants who want to separate from Ukraine. The militants and the Russians have been accused by Ukraine and the United States for being the mastermind of the MH17 shooting. They have, however, denied these allegations.

Malaysia and the Netherlands on Thursday had asked Ukraine and the militants to ceasefire to give way to the investigations team to carry out their duties safely and comfortably at the crash location.