Australia pleads for stay in executions, demands Jakarta probe

[WorldNews]

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By Jane Wardell and Randy Fabi SYDNEY/JAKARTA (Reuters) - Australia made a last-minute plea on Monday for a stay in the imminent execution of two Australian drug traffickers in Indonesia, saying reports that their trial had been tainted by corruption needed to be investigated. The call from Foreign Minister Julie Bishop almost immediately deepened a diplomatic row with Jakarta. Indonesia's foreign ministry hit back, saying Australia needed to show proof of alleged corruption and questioned why concerns were being raised only now instead of 10 years ago. Armanatha Nasir, spokesman for Indonesia's foreign ministry, said Australians Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan had been given all the legal avenues to challenge their death sentences.

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