Families of Malaysia Airlines flight 370 passengers protest in Beijing

Family members of passengers aboard Malaysia Airlines flight 370 rallied outside the Malaysian embassy in Beijing on Tuesday to protest the Malaysian government's announcement the evening before that all had perished aboard the missing flight.

Relatives held up signs that read: "We want our families. We want the truth." They are hoping, one man said, that the protest will pressure China to "get more involved now."

On Monday night, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak announced that MH-370 had crashed west of Perth, Australia. Citing British analysis of satellite data, Razak said it was "with deep sadness and regret that I must inform you that according to this new data, MH-370's life ended in the southern Indian Ocean."

Deputy Chinese Foreign Minister Xie Hangsheng said after meeting with Malaysian Ambassador Iskandar Bin Sarudin: "We demand the Malaysian side to make clear the specific basis on which they come to this judgment."

Chinese President Xi Jinping announced Monday that he is dispatching Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui to travel to Kuala Lumpur "to consult with the Malaysian side, learn about the situation, and ask the Malaysian side to properly handle related issues."

Of the 239 passengers aboard the missing plane, 154 were Chinese citizens.

[Los Angeles Times] [Xinhua]