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Australia offers prisoner swap for Bali Nine convicts Indonesia rejects Australia Bali Nine prisoner swap offer
(about 9 hours later)
Australia's foreign minister has offered a prisoner swap in a last-ditch attempt to save two Australian men on death row in Indonesia. Indonesia has rejected a last-ditch offer from Australia of a prisoner swap aimed at saving the lives of two Australian men on death row.
Julie Bishop said on Thursday she was waiting to hear back about the offer to repatriate three Indonesian convicts. Foreign Ministry spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir told the BBC that Indonesia had no law to provide for such an exchange.
Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were moved on Wednesday to a prison island where they are due to be executed. Earlier Australia's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop confirmed the swap offer was among options being explored.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott said he had requested another call to negotiate with Indonesian President Joko Widodo. Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumara, from the 'Bali Nine' drug-smuggling group, are due to be executed within days.
Ms Bishop confirmed that a prisoner swap was among the options being explored in a joint press conference with Mr Abbott on Thursday morning. The men are due to be shot by firing squad.
A spokesman for Indonesia's attorney general said the execution date may be decided in a few days.
Ms Bishop had announced the offer to repatriate three Indonesian convicts in return for the two Australian men in a joint news conference with Prime Minister Tony Abbott.
"What we are seeking to do is have an opportunity to talk about options that might be available in the area of prisoner transfer or prisoner swap," she said."What we are seeking to do is have an opportunity to talk about options that might be available in the area of prisoner transfer or prisoner swap," she said.
The offer was made to Ms Bishop's Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi, who "undertook to provide that information to the president", Ms Bishop said.The offer was made to Ms Bishop's Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi, who "undertook to provide that information to the president", Ms Bishop said.
The Australian government was exploring "every avenue that might be available to save the lives of these two men", she added.The Australian government was exploring "every avenue that might be available to save the lives of these two men", she added.
Mr Abbott said that he was seeking another telephone call with Mr Widodo to attempt to persuade the Indonesian president to show the men mercy. Mr Abbott said that he was seeking another telephone call with Indonesian President Joko Widodo to attempt to persuade him to show the men mercy.
"I've put in a request. I can't guarantee that the request will be met, but I've certainly put in a request," said Mr Abbott."I've put in a request. I can't guarantee that the request will be met, but I've certainly put in a request," said Mr Abbott.
"We respect Indonesia, we honour the friendship that we have with Indonesia, but we stand up for our values and we stand up for our citizens and these are Australian citizens in extremis.""We respect Indonesia, we honour the friendship that we have with Indonesia, but we stand up for our values and we stand up for our citizens and these are Australian citizens in extremis."
Mr Abbott and Ms Bishop were joined on Thursday morning by MPs and members of the public for a candlelit vigil for the men outside the parliament building in Canberra.Mr Abbott and Ms Bishop were joined on Thursday morning by MPs and members of the public for a candlelit vigil for the men outside the parliament building in Canberra.
Chan and Sukumaran were convicted in 2005 after being caught attempting to smuggle heroin from Bali to Australia.Chan and Sukumaran were convicted in 2005 after being caught attempting to smuggle heroin from Bali to Australia.
Indonesia has some of the toughest drug laws in the world and ended a four-year moratorium on executions in 2013.Indonesia has some of the toughest drug laws in the world and ended a four-year moratorium on executions in 2013.
President Joko Widodo has said the drugs trade destroys lives in Indonesia and adopted a hard line on convicted dealers. President Joko Widodo has said the drugs trade destroys lives in Indonesia and has adopted a hard line on convicted dealers.
Chan and Sukumaran left Kerobokan jail in Bali early on Wednesday morning and were flown to Nusakambangan, the high-security prison island where Indonesia conducts executions.Chan and Sukumaran left Kerobokan jail in Bali early on Wednesday morning and were flown to Nusakambangan, the high-security prison island where Indonesia conducts executions.
The date of their execution has not been announced but was expected to be this week. Al-Jazeera's Indonesia correspondent Step Vaessen said on Wednesday Mr Widodo told her the execution would not happen this week.The date of their execution has not been announced but was expected to be this week. Al-Jazeera's Indonesia correspondent Step Vaessen said on Wednesday Mr Widodo told her the execution would not happen this week.
The men are scheduled to be executed alongside citizens from countries including France, Brazil, Ghana and Nigeria. A woman from the Philippines also facing execution has appealed for a judicial review.The men are scheduled to be executed alongside citizens from countries including France, Brazil, Ghana and Nigeria. A woman from the Philippines also facing execution has appealed for a judicial review.
It is not clear when the executions will take place, but the authorities must legally give the convicts 72 hours' notice. Although it is not clear when the executions will take place, the authorities must legally give the convicts 72 hours' notice.
Chan and Sukumaran's relatives and supporters have pleaded for their lives to be spared, arguing that they have been rehabilitated while in jail.Chan and Sukumaran's relatives and supporters have pleaded for their lives to be spared, arguing that they have been rehabilitated while in jail.
France and Brazil have also protested; Paris has summoned the Indonesian envoy and Brazil's president refused to accept the credentials of the new Indonesian ambassador.
Who are the Bali Nine?Who are the Bali Nine?
Who are Chan and Sukumaran?Who are Chan and Sukumaran?
If the executions go ahead, it would be the second group of drug offenders to be put to death since Mr Widodo came to power.If the executions go ahead, it would be the second group of drug offenders to be put to death since Mr Widodo came to power.
In January, Indonesia executed six people, five of whom were foreigners, for drug offences.In January, Indonesia executed six people, five of whom were foreigners, for drug offences.
The Netherlands and Brazil, whose citizens were executed, recalled their ambassadors to Indonesia in response, saying this severely affected diplomatic relations.