Indonesia set to execute drug smugglers

Indonesia appears likely to press ahead with the execution of nine drug criminals today, despite last-ditch appeals by Australia's foreign minister for a stay of execution so claims of corruption during the trials of the two Australian prisoners could be investigated.

The Australian foreign minister, Julie Bishop said she received a letter from Indonesia which offered no indication of a reprieve for Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan.

The two are among nine drug convicts, mostly foreigners, who are due to be executed by a firing squad tonight. The Indonesian President, Joko Widodo in a statement said such concerns should have been conveyed a decade ago when the case went through the courts.

The members of the "Bali Nine" were arrested at the main airport on the holiday island of Bali in April 2005 for trying to smuggle eight point three kilograms of heroin to Australia.

ALJAZEERA