Australia recalls ambassador after Indonesia executes prisoners

(CNN) Australia has recalled its ambassador to Indonesia for consultations after two Australians were among eight drug smugglers executed by firing squad early Wednesday.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott called the executions “cruel and unnecessary” because both men, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, had been “fully rehabilitated” during a decade in prison.

Abbott didn’t say what permanent actions, if any, would be taken against Indonesia. “This is a dark moment in the relationship, but I’m sure the relationship will be restored,” he said.

One of the men’s Indonesian lawyers, Todung Mulya Lubis tweeted his apologies. “I failed. I lost,” he said. “I’m sorry.”

Indonesian President Joko Widodo appeared to shrug off the diplomatic recall, telling reporters that “our legal sovereignty must be respected. We also respect other countries’ legal sovereignty.” Foreign minister Retno Marsudi said the country had no plans to recall its own ambassador in response.