MH17: Plane with Malaysian bodies arrives in KL

Kuala Lumpur: The bodies of 20 Malaysian victims of Flight MH17 that crashed in Ukraine in July have arrived in Kuala Lumpur, as the nation holds a day of mourning.

A specially chartered plane took off from Amsterdam and landed around 10:00 local time (02:00 GMT). National flags will be flying at half-mast across the country and a minute of silence will be observed.

Flight MH17 is believed to have been shot down by a missile fired by pro-Russian rebels. They denied the claim.

All 298 passengers and crew on board the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 died on 17 July. A small contingent of Malaysian soldiers escorted the coffins as they were being unloaded. Meanwhile, large white funeral hearses lined up on the tarmac to receive the bodies.

All the coffins were draped in the national flag. Three of the 20 bodies have been cremated in the Netherlands.

The country's public transportation, including the national rail system and Kuala Lumpur's monorail, would also come to a standstill to observe two minutes of silence, said the New Straits Times. Toll booths on highways will have electronic signs urging drivers to alight from their vehicles.

Both The New Straits Times and the Star newspapers have darkened their mastheads on their websites as a sign of respect.

A Malaysia Airlines spokesman said that the company would organise a prayer session, which would be made open to the public to offer their respects and prayers.

The victims' bodies would be later handed over to their families and relatives. This is the first time Malaysia is holding a national day of mourning for civilian victims. The honor has traditionally been accorded only to the royal family and heads of government.