Cockpit of MH17 found 'sawn in half at spot cordoned off by pro-Russian separatists for two days after attack'

International monitors have only recently gained access to the site

It is claimed that the cockpit was cut in half with diesel-powered saws

Land where cockpit was found was cordoned off by separatists for two days



The cockpit of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 which was shot down over Ukraine has been found sawn in half, it has been claimed.



International monitors, who only recently gained access to the site, discovered the cockpit of the plane apparently cut in half with diesel-powered saws.

Michael Bociurkiw, spokesman for the group of international monitors from the Organize for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), told USA Today: 'The rear part of the aircraft, one of the biggest intact pieces, has definitely been hacked into'.



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Pro-Russian rebels, right, followed by members of the OSCE mission, walk by plane wreckage today

The cockpit was found on land which was immediately cordoned off by Russian-backed separatists during the two days after the plane was blown out of the sky.

According to witnesses, this was also the area where the first bodies were removed.



Officials investigating the incident believe large parts of the cockpit and every part of the fuselage were carried off questioning why such important pieces of evidence were tampered with.

Flight MH17 was carrying 283 passengers and 15 crew members when was crashed last Thursday after being hit by what officials suspect was a surface-to-air missile launched from an area controlled by Russian-backed separatists.

Malaysian experts check debris at the main crash site of the Boeing 777 Malaysia Airlines flight MH17

A Malaysian air crash investigator holds a bag at a crash site of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17



However, both the separatists and Russia have denied any involvement in shooting down the plane.

Yesterday, President Barack Obama called for Russia to stop the separatist from moving parts of the aircraft so the area can be properly investigated.

'The separatists are removing evidence from the crash site,' he said. 'All of which begs the question: What are they trying to hide?'

A women bows during a religious service held by villagers in memory of the victims at the crash site of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, near the village of Hrabove, eastern Ukraine

A toy is placed at the crash site of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 near the village of Hrabove, eastern Ukraine

An Australian air force plane and refrigerated trucks have now arrived in Holland to wait for the MH17

victims but it is now feared only 200 bodies have been recovered.



There were 298 people on board the doomed aircraft.

The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe also says there are still human remains lying on the crash site.



Jain Tuinder, a Dutch official leading the investigation, said just 200 bodies had arrived in Kharkiv today adding: 'We will not leave until every remain has left this country so we will have to go on and bargain again with the people over there.’