Iran is facing fresh pressure to give a full accounting of what happened to the Ukrainian Airlines plane that was shot down over its capital city last week with 176 people on board. Ministers from five countries that lost citizens in the crash are due to meet in London later to demand answers. Ahead of the meeting, Canada’s foreign minister said his country would “get to the very bottom” of what happened. Iran has said the plane was brought down by a missile fired in error. The plane, travelling to the Ukrainian capital Kiev and carrying many passengers on their way to Canada, was downed amid escalating tensions between Iran and the US. There were no survivors. Hours before, Iranian missiles had targeted two airbases in Iraq housing US forces. For three days after the tragedy Iran denied any responsibility but after international pressure, the hardline Revolutionary Guards accepted responsibility, saying the plane had been mistaken for a “cruise missile”. The crisis has come at an extremely sensitive time for Iran, both in terms of its relationship with the international community and at home, where there have been anti-government protests. What’s the meeting in London about? Five countries who had citizens on the plane – Canada, Britain, Ukraine, Sweden and Afghanistan – have formed a new group to co-ordinate their response as the Iranian-led investigation unfolds. Their foreign ministers will light memorial candles at the Canadian High Commission in London on Thursday to honour the dead before holding discussions focusing on the need for transparency from Iran. Canadian Transport Minister Marc Garneau said the meeting would aim to “achieve consensus” on what to demand from Iran. “Canada will not accept a situation where we feel that we’re not being given the information that we’re looking for,” he said on Wednesday. “Make no mistake about it, Canada is going to get to the very bottom of this.” The group wants all those responsible for the plane’s downing to be held to account and arrangements made to ensure the dignified repatriation of the remains of victims to their families across the world. Canada is investigating reports that the families of some victims have been harassed by authorities in Iran and urged to keep quiet. Many of the foreign nationals killed are believed to have held dual nationality and Canada’s government says it is “deeply concerned” about alleged pressure on Iranian-Canadian families not to repatriate remains. The possibility of taking legal action and the issue of compensation will also be discussed at Thursday’s meeting, according to Ukraine’s foreign minister Vadym Prystaiko. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the BBC on Tuesday that he was “glad” Iran had acknowledged making a “terrible mistake” in shooting down the plane. More at BBC]]>
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