Australia is planning to withdraw its ambassador to Indonesia, following this morning's execution of Bali Nine ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran.
The pair was sentenced to death after being convicted of trying to smuggle 8.3kgs of heroin into Australia in 2005.
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott called the executions "cruel and unnecessary" in a press conference in Canberra this morning, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.
"We respect Indonesia's sovereignty but we do deplore what's been done and this cannot be simply business as usual," said Mr Abbott. "For that reason, once all the courtesies have been extended to the Chan and Sukumaran families, our ambassador will be withdrawn for consultations."
"I want to stress that this is a very important relationship between Australia and Indonesia but it has suffered as a result of what's been done over the last few hours."
Chan and Sukumaran were executed by firing squad around 25 minutes after midnight (local time) along with eight others on death row.
A ninth woman – Mary Jane Veloso of the Philippines – was given a last-minute reprieve after the woman who allegedly tricked her into carrying drugs turned herself into police.
Chan and Sukumaran became the first ever criminals to receive death sentences imposed by the Denpasar District Court after being convicted of heroin trafficking in 2005. The drugs had a street value of around AU$4 million.
Their families had been allowed to say their final farewells at Nusakambangan – known as 'Death Island' – on Tuesday afternoon.
The Indonesian government has yet to officially confirm the executions.
The Jakarta Post quoted an anonymous official in the attorney-general's office confirming the death.
Earlier this week Indonesian President Joko Widodo brushed off suggestions of corruption, after it was alleged judges in the men’s trial had requested money in exchange for a lighter sentence.
Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop had labelled the allegations "very serious" and said they called into question the integrity of the process, Reuters reported.
But Mr Widodo said any concerns should have been raised when the case went through the courts a decade ago.
Attorney General spokesman Tony Spontana said the executions would not be delayed by the decision to have the challenge heard at the Constitutional Court next month, insisting that executions for all nine on death row would take place this week, Reuters reported.
The family of Veloso were "ecstatic, dumbfound, in tears" in hearing of her reprieve, according to Jakarta-based journalist Jet Damazo-Santos.
Veloso's lawyer Ally Edre Olalia said he was hopeful she would be exonerated, but there was still work to be done.
"We believe that proving the human trafficking case in the Philippines will in effect prove her innocence," he told the Sydney Morning Herald.
Mr Edre Olalia tweeted: "Never really over till it's over. What a rollercoaster ride that saps emotions &tests grit [sic]."
Chan's brother Michael posted a tribute on Twitter, saying, "I have just lost a Courageous brother to a flawed Indonesian legal system, I miss you already RIP my Little Brother [sic]."
Todung Mulya Lubis, one of the human rights lawyers who acted on behalf of Chan and Sukumaran, tweeted he was "sorry" for their deaths.
"I failed. I lost."
The pair's Australian lawyer, Peter Morrissey, said he was devastated by the deaths.
"We've tried all of the legal options we can, we've tried to keep those alive, those efforts have been in vain for saving the two beautiful boys. It's a bit much right at the moment to start assessing emotions, we'll do plenty of that over the next few of days."
Australia's Green Party leader Christine Milne called the execution a "tragedy" while Opposition leader Bill Shorten and Opposition foreign affairs spokesperson Tanya Plibersek issued a statement saying, "As a close friend and neighbour of Indonesia, Australia is deeply hurt that our pleas for mercy were ignored."
"These executions significantly weaken Indonesia's ability to plead mercy for its own citizens facing execution around the world," they said.
'Last bit of dignity denied'
Indonesian authorities yesterday refused Chan and Sukumaran the right to have a pastor of their choice to witness their executions. Sukumaran had requested long-time friend and supporter Christie Buckingham, a senior pastor from a church in Melbourne, while Chan nominated Salvation Army minister and family friend David Soper.
Instead, Indonesian authorities were to provide their own Christian advisors in line with the men's stated religion.
In a text message to Fairfax media, Chan’s brother Michael said the rejection denied the men their "last bit of dignity".
On Monday, Chan and Sukumaran had refused to sign their execution papers saying their impending deaths were unjust. The pair told prosecutors they had already been rehabilitated and deserved a second chance, Australia's Herald Sun had reported.
At a press conference in Jakarta in February, Sukumaran's mother read a statement pleading for Indonesia's Prime Minister and the Government to spare the men's lives.
Reading a statement on behalf of herself and Chan's mother, Helen, Ms Sukumaran begged, "please don't kill our sons".
Mr Widodo has said there is "no compromise" on executing death row drug smugglers.
Chan and Sukumaran's seven co-accused Si Yi Chen, Michael Czugaj, Renae Lawrence, Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen, Matthew Norman, Scott Rush and Martin Stephens, were all sentenced to life imprisonment in February 2006.
Some have since appealed their sentences and had them reduced to 20 years.
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