This Article is From Apr 29, 2015

Mobilising All Diplomatic Options to Save National from Execution in Indonesia: France

Mobilising All Diplomatic Options to Save National from Execution in Indonesia: France

A rally in eastern France on 25 April, 2015, in support of Serge Atlaoui, on death row in Indonesia for drug trafficking. (Agence France-Presse)

Paris: France said today that it was mobilising all diplomatic options in a bid to save Frenchman Serge Atlaoui from death row in Indonesia on drug charges following the execution of seven foreigners.

"Full diplomatic efforts continue on this issue," Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told a cabinet meeting according to government spokesman Stephane Le Foll.

Indonesia's overnight execution of the convicts - two from Australia, one from Brazil and four from Africa - drew a storm of protest abroad but President Joko Widodo defended the deaths by firing squad as merely applying "the rule of law" against drug traffickers.

Atlaoui, 51, was originally among the group set to be executed but was unexpectedly granted a temporary reprieve after Indonesia agreed to allow an outstanding legal appeal to run its course.

French President Francois Hollande has warned that Indonesia would face diplomatic "consequences" if it pushed ahead with the execution of Atlaoui.
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