KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — International outrage mounted over the treatment of the bodies of MH17's innocent victims on Saturday. The Malaysian government led the charge in demanding the remains of passengers strewn across a field in eastern Ukraine be treated with "dignity and respect."
"Investigators and the public in Malaysia are increasingly upset that the bodies are still left in a field," a government source told NBC News. The outcry came as public criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin grew globally. The upset manifested itself in statements from officials and in newspaper headlines. Britain's Daily Mirror tabloid featured the headline "Putin's victims," alongside pictures of MH17 passengers on its front page Saturday. "I was shocked at the pictures of utterly disrespectful behavior at this tragic spot," said Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. After speaking with Putin, Rutte said the Russian leader “has one last chance to show he means to help" recover the bodies. Of the 298 passengers aboard MH17, 193 were Dutch and 43 were Malaysian.
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— Keir Simmons, Ed Flanagan and Christina Boyle
Reuters contributed to this report.