France mobilizing diplomatic options to save Serge Atlaoui from death in Indonesia

France said Wednesday 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.

Atlaoui was unexpectedly granted a temporary reprieve after Indonesia agreed to allow an outstanding legal appeal to run its course.

Atlaoui was unexpectedly granted a temporary reprieve after Indonesia agreed to allow an outstanding legal appeal to run its course.


“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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