Last-minute bid to save two Australian convicts in Indonesia

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop on Thursday made a last-minute bid to save two Australian convicts from being executed in Indonesia.

Andrew Chan, 31, and Myuran Sukumaran, 33, were sentenced to death for smuggling 8.3 kg of heroin from Indonesia to Australia in 2005.

Bishop had proposed to repatriate three convicted Indonesian drug criminals in return for the lives of the two men, ABC reported.

Hoever, Indonesia has not accepted Bishop's offer. Speaking at a vigil for the duo outside Canberra's Parliament House, Bishop again urged Indonesia to show mercy to the two men.

"We ask the Indonesian government, indeed we appeal to the Indonesian president to grant a stay of clemency," said Julie.

"First, there are still legal avenues open to the men and an appeal is being sought before the state administrative court. Secondly, there are allegations being considered by their judicial commission regarding bribery charges arising from the original trial," she added.

Earlier, Indonesian president Joko Widodo said,"he had a constitutional responsibility to follow through with the executions". However, "the planned executions would not take place this week," Joko said.

Chan and Sukumaran were transferred on Wednesday from Bali's Kerobokan prison to isolation cells in Nusakambangan island prison in Central Java to await news about the timing of their executions.

The Australian pair are among a group of 11 prisoners who have been recently approved for execution by the Indonesian government. The list also includes prisoners from France, Ghana, Brazil, Nigeria, the Philippines and Indonesia.