Aust, EU urged Jakarta to stop executions

Just hours before nine drug convicts were to face the firing squad, Australia, the European Union and France had urged Indonesia not to go ahead with the executions.

"The governments of Australia, France and the European Union call on President Widodo to halt the planned executions. It is not too late to change your mind," said the joint statement released by the Australian embassy in Jakarta.

President Joko Widodo had been determined to push ahead with the executions of the nine convicts, who included two Australias as well as a Brazilian, three Nigerians, a Ghanaian, a Filipina and an Indonesian.

"In filing this petition, we ask Indonesia to reflect upon the impact on Indonesia's position in the world and its international reputation. We support Indonesia's efforts in obtaining clemency for its citizens abroad. Stopping this execution will help those efforts," the statement said.

"We fully respect the sovereignty of Indonesia. But we are against the death penalty in our country and abroad. The execution will not have a deterrent effect on drug-trafficking or stop others from becoming victims of drug abuse. Executing these prisoners now will not achieve anything."

The eleventh-hour appeal came as Indonesia made final preparations to execute the drug convicts including Bali Nine pair Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, with ambulances carrying coffins seen arriving at their prison, and relatives paying emotional last visits.

The Filipina, Mary Jane Fiesta Veloso, was given a last-minute reprieve.