International monitors have been forced to abandon plans to visit the Ukrainian crash site where a Malaysia Airlines passenger plane came down over a week ago.

Fierce fighting between Ukrainian troops and pro-Russian rebels nearby meant it was unsafe.

Eleven days after the plane was thought to have been shot down with 298 people on board and a fully fledged investigation still has not begun.

Two thirds of the victims were Dutch, but Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte has ruled now out military intervention to secure the crash site:

“Achieving military superiority through an international mission in this region is – it is our conclusion – not realistic. Not even if we opt for a massive military deployment. Even then, achieving military superiority is not a realistic option,” said the Dutch premier.

Human remains recovered from the wreckage have been taken to the Dutch military barracks in Hilversum where more than 200 forensic experts are working at identifying bodies.

For the relatives of the victims the constant delays in being provided with answers to the disaster is adding to the agony of their grief.