Russia to investigage Ukraine missile theory

SOCHI, Russia -- High-ranking Russian and Ukrainian defense officials headed to the Black Sea on Sunday to investigate whether a Russian airliner was mistakenly shot down by a Ukrainian missile.

The search for bodies continued Sunday at the crash site of the Sibir Airlines Tupolev 154, and more relatives of the 78 victims arrived in the Black Sea city of Sochi where the investigation is based.

Over the weekend, Russia changed its position on the cause of Thursday's explosion and crash. It now appears willing to consider the U.S. contention that Ukraine accidentally shot down the aircraft during military exercises.

Vladimir Potapov, a deputy secretary of the Russian Security Council, said Russian Defense Ministry experts were sent Sunday to help with the investigation, and that a Ukrainian military team led by a high-ranking general would arrive on Monday.

President Vladimir Putin was dissatisfied with information provided by the Ukrainians and has asked for more details on Ukraine's military exercises, Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said Saturday.

The jetliner, en route from Tel Aviv to the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, exploded and crashed into the sea 114 miles off the Russian coastal city of Adler, near Sochi.

U.S. intelligence officials have said the plane was hit by a Ukrainian missile during military exercises, which took place 155 miles away. The missile was seen by U.S. satellites.

Russia initially dismissed the U.S. contention, and Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma has repeatedly said a missile strike was impossible. However, Interfax news agency reported that Putin and Kuchma spoke by telephone on Saturday and agreed no theory should be ruled out.

A 21-member Israeli delegation arrived in Sochi on Sunday to aid the investigation. Most victims were Russian-born Israeli immigrants, many of whom were headed back to Russia to visit relatives over the Sukkot holiday.

Igor Maslakov, Sochi's forensic expert, said the Israelis brought dental and fingerprint records to identify passengers.

The Israeli delegation included forensic experts and three Jewish military chaplains, one of whom carried a large box containing a Torah scroll. The rabbis were to observe Jewish funeral rites.