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France and Australia condemn death penalty

Ben McPartland
Ben McPartland - [email protected]
France and Australia condemn death penalty

French president François Hollande and Australia's PM Tony Abbott sent a message to Jakarta on Monday morning as the leaders jointly condemned the death penalty. Indonesia is preparing to execute several drug traffickers including French and Australian nationals.

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Australia's Abbott met with Hollande on Monday morning  to discuss ways of improving bilateral relations between the two countries, as well as several pressing issues such as the fight against terrorism and Indonesia's intention to execute several drug traffickers.

The pair vowed their two countries would work together in the global fight against Isis and terrorism.

"The head of state and Mr Abbott expressed their shared commitment to peace and international security and agreed to strengthen the Franco-Australian cooperation established in the framework of operations against Isis and the fight against terrorism," a statement from the Elysée Palace said.

The pair also condemned Indonesia's plan to execute several drug traffickers including a Frenchman Serge Atlaoui, 51, and two Australians.

"France and Australia share a commitment of human rights and condemn recourse to the death penalty in all places and in all circumstances," read the statement from the Elysée.

Frenchman Atlaoui recently lost an appeal to the Indonesian Supreme Court, and his legal team have lodged a further legal bid with the State Court, but this is viewed has having little chance of success.

Jakarta has previously said that all legal avenues have been exhausted and convicts are simply trying to buy time.

However France has mounted a sustained diplomatic campaign to save Atlaoui, with Hollande on Saturday warning Jakarta there will be "diplomatic consequences" if he is put to death.

Earlier Saturday, two Australians and a Filipina were officially notified by Indonesia they will be executed.

The Australians are Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan, ringleaders of the "Bali Nine" heroin trafficking gang, and Filipina mother-of-two Mary Jane Veloso.

The fate of the other convicts in the group, including a Brazilian and four Africans facing execution, was not immediately clear.

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