All photos by Elysia Windrum

To mark the deaths of the 298 people killed after their Malaysia Airline flight was shot down while flying over Ukraine last week, a condolence book has been opened at the Malaysian embassy in Doha.

The book, which was signed mostly by the diplomatic community, was only on display until this afternoon, ambassador Dato’ Ahmad Jazri bin Mohamed Johar told Doha News.

The embassy has also lowered its flag to half mast, but plans to raise it again tomorrow, he said, adding:

“It’s the most tragic things that’s happened to Malaysia and it has also made civilian air travel very scary. Things like this shouldn’t be allowed to happen and all the prevention measures should be put in place to make sure it never happens again – and of course, I want to see the people responsible face justice.

I won’t comment on the fact that no explanation has been found yet. Our whole team is there now. Let them do their work.”

MH17 had been traveling from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, and was thought to have been hit by a missile from pro-Russian separatists in the area, though Moscow has denied any involvement.

As the exact cause of the plane crash continued to be investigated, Qatar Airways and several other major carriers have said they will cease flying over Ukrainian airspace for now.

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