Malaysia Airlines MH17 crash: Ukraine rebels with Russian military help likely downed passenger jet, says Kerry

Kerry citied a mix of US intelligence and social media reports as evidence that he says 'obviously points a very clear finger at the separatists'

John Kerry has arrived in Iraq (Reuters)

The United States is putting the likely blame for the downed Malaysian passenger plane on Ukraine separatists who had Russian military help.

Secretary of State John Kerry is citing a mix of US intelligence and social media reports as evidence that he says "obviously points a very clear finger at the separatists."

Kerry says there's been a major flow of arms and weapons crossing the Russian border over the past month to help the Ukrainian rebels who are fighting to break away in the east from the central government.

Kerry says separatists have shot down about 12 aircraft over the last month, and bragged about Thursday's attack on the Malaysian plane until they realized it was a commercial jet.

AP