Family of Frenchman on Indonesia Death Row Begs Hollande, EU to Save Him

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Relatives of a Frenchman on death row in Indonesia for drug offenses begged President Francois Hollande and the European Union to save him after his appeal was rejected by the Supreme Court on Tuesday.

"Our family calls on President Francois Hollande and the European Union to do everything possible to save Serge Atlaoui from the firing squad," his brother Andre told AFP, describing their "dismay", "suffering" and "lack of understanding" at the court's decision.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, meanwhile, said Paris continued to hope for a "gesture of clemency" from Indonesia, reiterating that any execution of the 51-year-old would have "consequences" on ties between the two countries.

Atlaoui was arrested near Jakarta in 2005 in a secret laboratory producing ecstasy and was sentenced to death two years later.

The father-of-four has always denied the charges, saying he was installing industrial machinery in what he thought was an acrylics factory.

He is one of several foreign drug convicts on death row in Indonesia who recently lost appeals for presidential clemency, typically a last chance to avoid the firing squad. 

If put to death, Atlaoui will be the first Frenchman to be executed anywhere in nearly 40 years.

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