Bali Nine: Brief reprieve for Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran but Indonesia declines prisoner swap

By George Roberts, Helen Brown and Greg Jennett

Two Australians listed for execution in Indonesia have been given a brief reprieve, while the country's president has confirmed Jakarta will not be taking up Australia's offer for a prisoner swap.

Indonesia's justice and human rights minister, Yasonna Laoly, told the ABC there would be a "short delay" to the next round of executions, which includes drug traffickers Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran.

Other media have been told the delay was up to 10 days by a source the ABC understood to be senior within the ministry responsible for timing the executions.

Officials and lawyers representing foreigners on death row believed the delays might have been partly caused by unresolved legal processes involving five of the 11 people listed for the next round of executions.

Sukumaran and Chan fall into that category, with both pursuing legal appeals or challenges.

Meanwhile, Indonesia has officially rejected Australia's prisoner swap proposal for the death row inmates, saying it did not have the legal instruments for such an arrangement.

The foreign affairs ministry confirmed that the suggestion to send three Indonesian prisoners home if Jakarta stopped its plans to execute the two Australians was not something it was considering.

Ministry spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir said the reasoning was explained in a phone call between Indonesian foreign affairs minister Retno Marsudi and her Australian counterpart Julie Bishop earlier this week.

"We understand the need for Australia to assist its citizens, but again we emphasise that such efforts should be done in a diplomatic manner, in a way that is respectful to the laws of the country - in this case the laws of Indonesia - and also respect the sovereignty of the laws in Indonesia," Mr Nasir said.

Members of the Chan and Sukumaran families flew into Yogyakarta airport on Thursday before driving to Cilacap.

They were being supported by consular officials from the Foreign Affairs Department.

Visiting days for the prison wing are Mondays and Wednesdays, but officials and lawyers representing the two men are trying to negotiate special permission for the families to visit the men sooner.

Official complaint over police 'selfies' with inmates

The Australian Government has formally complained to Indonesia about the treatment of Chan and Sukumaran after photos were published of the Denpasar police chief posing with the pair.

The photos, which appeared in local and international media, showed commissioner Djoko Hari Utomo on the flight with the two men from Kerobokan prison in Bali to central Java.

Senior cabinet minister Christopher Pyne told Channel Nine the Indonesian ambassador was summoned last night for discussions.

"We have taken a very firm line with the Indonesian government, and the Foreign Minister asked the ambassador in last night for an explanation of the photographs of the police chief with the two condemned men," Mr Pyne said.

Treasurer Joe Hockey told Channel 7 the treatment of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran had been inappropriate.

"It was incredibly insensitive, it's almost macabre the way this has been handled by the Indonesian authorities," Mr Hockey said.

The police commissioner told Fairfax Media that he was trying to raise the spirits of the Australians and had no idea the photos were being taken.

Mr Pyne said Australia's relationship with Indonesia was very important but there would be consequences if the executions went ahead.

"It does transcend these kinds of issues when they occur from time to time, but there does have to be consequences for the relationship for the Indonesian government not to grant clemency to Andrew and Myuran and that, in the fullness of time, will become clear," Mr Pyne said