EU 'dismayed' by Indonesia executions, urges halt

(BRUSSELS) - The EU expressed dismay at Indonesia's execution of eight drug convicts Wednesday and called for a moratorium on further executions in the country, where a Frenchman remains on death row.

Brussels' reaction was the latest in a storm of international anger after the convicts -- two Australians, one from Brazil, four from Africa and one Indonesian -- were put to death by firing squad.

"We are dismayed at the latest series of executions in Indonesia," a spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said in a statement.

"As friends of Indonesia, we urge the government to take heed of the views expressed by many in the international community in recent days and declare an immediate moratorium on the use of the death penalty."

The EU was ready to help Indonesia combat the drug trade, the spokesman added.

Indonesia has staunchly defended the executions as a vital front of its "war" on drugs.

France said Wednesday it was mobilising all diplomatic options to try to save Frenchman Serge Atlaoui, who was originally among the group set to be executed but was granted a temporary reprieve for an outstanding legal appeal.

At a European summit last week, EU President Donald Tusk said the bloc was "completely opposed" to the sentence against the 51-year-old Atlaoui.