The search for victims of the MH17 disaster has been suspended amid escalating fighting in Ukraine as Australia begins a national day of mourning to grieve for its dead.
Australian, Dutch and Malaysian experts hope to be able to return to the crash site but say for now the worsening clashes between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russia rebels have made the mission too dangerous.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte made the announcement in the Netherlands overnight.
'It doesn't make sense to continue with the repatriation in this manner,' Mr Rutte told reporters in The Hague. 'We have done what we could under the current circumstances.'
Australia's special envoy to the Ukraine, Angus Houston, made it clear he hopes to see the search resume.
'When search and security conditions improve we will conduct a final inspection to ensure that we have recovered all identifiable remains,' he said in a statement on Thursday.
'We are committed to honouring the victims of flight MH17 and seeking to give their loved ones the closure they deserve.'
The decision comes as the nation prepares to honour the 38 Australian citizens and residents who were among the 298 people killed in the July 17 missile attack, as part of a national day of mourning.
Australian flags are flying at half mast and church bells are chiming around the country.
Grieving families will join with dignitaries including Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove at a national memorial service at St Patrick's Cathedral in Melbourne.
'We will give thanks for their lives and we will pray for their loved ones,' Mr Abbott said in a statement.
'We will pause.'
Melbourne was chosen as the host of the national memorial service because 16 of the 38 Australians killed were from Victoria.
Queenslander Paul Guard, who lost his parents Roger and Jill in the disaster, said he was disheartened by the decision to halt the search. He hoped the disaster would be a catalyst for a ceasefire.
'Unfortunately it's gone the other way and I don't think enough pressure has been brought to bear on all the people and parties involved in that conflict to stop what they're doing,' he told ABC television.
'I think it's just dreadful.'
- AAP
Entities 0 Name: Ukraine Count: 2 1 Name: Melbourne Count: 2 2 Name: Australia Count: 2 3 Name: Abbott Count: 1 4 Name: Netherlands Count: 1 5 Name: The Hague Count: 1 6 Name: Angus Houston Count: 1 7 Name: Rutte Count: 1 8 Name: Tony Abbott Count: 1 9 Name: ABC Count: 1 10 Name: Victoria Count: 1 11 Name: St Patrick Count: 1 12 Name: Jill Count: 1 13 Name: Roger Count: 1 14 Name: Paul Guard Count: 1 15 Name: Peter Cosgrove Count: 1 16 Name: Mark Rutte Count: 1 Related 0 Url: http://ift.tt/1oejrU4 Title: Dutch Call Off Search For Additional Remains In Ukraine Description: Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has called off the search for additional remains at the site of the downed airliner in Ukraine. At a news conference in The Hague on Wednesday, Rutte said the search has become too dangerous. As we reported yesterday, Russia has stationed more than 30,000 troops near its border with Ukraine for military exercises.