DHAKA: The bodies and ashes of 20 Malaysians killed when Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 was shot down over Ukraine in July have arrived in Kuala Lumpur.

It was the first repatriation of victims from the flight to the country.

The government has urged people to wear black and observe a minute of silence and prayer.

A charted Malaysian Airlines jet arrived Friday at the international airport from Amsterdam, where the bodies of all the victims were first taken.

All 298 people onboard died when the plane was shot down over an area of eastern Ukraine controlled by pro-Russia separatists as it flew to Kuala Lumpur from Amsterdam.

The victims included 43 Malaysians and 195 Dutch nationals.

Source: utsandiego.com

BDST: 0838 HRS, AUG 22, 2014