Family, friends mourn MH17 victims

2014-08-07 54

4104 + file

Nearly 2000 people gathered at a church in Melbourne to remember the victims of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 that was shot down in Ukraine last month.

Friends and family wept as they laid wreaths for the 27 Australians killed in the crash.

Australian Prime Minister tony Abbott.

(SOUNDBITE)(English) AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER TONY ABBOTT SAYING:

"There will be a time to judge the guilty, but today we honour the dead and we grieve with the living. We cannot bring them back, but we will bring them home, as far as we humanly can."

There were 298 people on board the plane when it was shot down on July 17th.

Many Western officials believe the plane was brought down by pro-Kremlin separatists who used a Russian supplied missile. Both Moscow and the rebels have denied those allegations.

Still many in Australia are furious that Russia might have been was involved.

The country will host Russian President Vladimir Putin and other w