Anger follows Indonesia executions

According to international media, Australia has recalled its ambassador from Indonesia after two Australian men were executed for drug smuggling. Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were among eight people executed by firing squad shortly after midnight on Wednesday on the prison island of Nusakambangan.

Brazil's government also expressed its "deep dismay" at the execution of one of its citizens, Rodrigo Gularte but the execution of a Philippine woman was called off at the last minute. Mary Jane Fiesta Veloso was spared after her government appealed to Indonesia, saying a woman she had accused of planting drugs on her had handed herself in.

Australia had organised a lengthy diplomatic campaign to save Chan and Sukumaran, convicted of being the ringleaders of a group of Australian heroin traffickers known as the Bali Nine in 2006.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said that the executions were "both cruel and unnecessary," saying Chan and Sukumaran had been "fully rehabilitated" while in prison.

"We respect Indonesia's sovereignty but we do deplore what's been done and this cannot be simply business as usual," he explained.

"For that reason, once all the courtesies have been extended to the Chan and Sukumaran families our ambassador will be withdrawn for consultations."

The BBC informs that Indonesia is an important country to Australia and the two work closely together on asylum seekers and terrorism issues. It is the first time Australia has recalled an ambassador from the country, and its first ever recall over the execution of one of its citizens abroad.