'All shots were done perfectly... much better than the first round of executions': Indonesian attorney-general boasts of 'smooth and orderly' firing squad... and shrugs off Tony Abbott's withdrawal of Australia's envoy

• H.M. Prasetyo praises firing squad that carried out Bali pair's executions
• Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were killed on Wednesday morning
• 'These executions were carried out smoothly and in order,' Prasetyo says 
• Hundreds take to social media to urging people to #BoycottIndonesia
• Tony Abbott will withdraw Australia's ambassador to Indonesia
• Indonesia's AG dismissed the move as a 'momentary reaction'
• Chan and Sukumaran were executed 12:25am local time
• Julie Bishop hasn't ruled out cutting Australian aid to Indonesia in protest

By Sarah Michael and Sally Lee and John Carney and Daniel Piotrowski and Australian Associated Press

Published: 06:38 EST, 29 April 2015 | Updated: 06:44 EST, 29 April 2015

A senior Indonesian government official has praised the firing squad that executed Bali Nine pair Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran.

ABC News reports that Indonesian attorney-general H.M. Prasetyo applauded Chan and Sukumaran's executioners for their work.  

'All shots were done perfectly. These executions were carried out smoothly and in order - much better than the first round of executions in January,' he said.

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Indonesian attorney-general H.M. Prasetyo (right) applauded Chan and Sukumaran's executioners for the good job that they did

Mr Prasetyo (second right) said that 'all the shots were done perfectly' at the execution

The Indonesian attorney-general believed that Wednesday morning's execution was much better than one carried out in January 

Mr Prasetyo declared it was necessary to fight drug crime in the country, as he dismissed Australia's withdrawal of its ambassador as a 'momentary reaction'.

He visited Nusakambangan on Wednesday, hours after Bali Nine pair were executed with other drug offenders.

'I would like to say that an execution is not a pleasant thing. It is not a fun job,' he said.

'But we must do it in order to save the nation from the danger of drugs. We are not making enemies of counties from where those executed came. What we are fighting against is drug-related crimes. 

Prime Minister Tony Abbott said Australia will withdraw its ambassador to Indonesia in an unprecedented diplomatic response to the executions of Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan

Indonesian president Joko Widodo failed to return Australian PM Tony Abbott's phone calls about the Bali Nine in March

'Therefore, I would like to offer my condolences, on the execution of those who were on the death row, to their families, to their home countries.

'Once again, we are not against the countries, but we are fighting a war against the horrible drug crimes that threaten our nation's survival.'

Mr Prasetyo shrugged off diplomatic backlash from Australia after Prime Minister Tony Abbott slammed the executions as 'cruel and unnecessary' and announced he would withdraw Australia's ambassador to Indonesia Paul Grigson.

'The Netherlands have done the same thing in the past. Brazil has done the same thing,' he said.

'I think this is just a momentary reaction, and this will be settled within the diplomatic sphere.'

Indonesia's Vice President Jusuf Kalla said withdrawing an ambassador was a normal diplomatic protest.

'Within a month or two, they will come back. That's the signal of protest, we did that too,' he said, referring to the time Indonesia withdrew its ambassador to Australia in 2013 over a phone tapping scandal.

Prasetyo said the executions would serve as a warning to others.

'This is a warning for others, don't even try to commit these drug crimes, to think a thousand times, that Indonesia will be strict, will be harsh on drug crimes,' he told reporters in Cilacap. 

'The result of the second execution was better, more orderly and more perfect than the last,' he said, referring to executions carried out in January and noting the bodies were treated more 'humanely' this time.

Indonesia's President Joko Widodo raised his nation's sovereignty when asked about Australia withdrawing its ambassador.

'Our sovereignty must be respected,' he told reporters.

Rest in peace: Myuran Sukumaran (foreground) and Andrew Chan (back) were executed 

'We're ready to respect the sovereignty of other countries as well.'

Mr Abbott announced Australia's unprecedented diplomatic response on Wednesday morning, just hours after the Bali Nine duo were put to death despite pleas for their deaths to be reconsidered.

'Australia respects the Indonesian system, we respect Indonesia's sovereignty but we do deplore what's been done and this cannot simply be business as usual,' Mr Abbott said. 

'For that reason once all the courtesies have been extended to the Chan and Sukumaran families our ambassador will be withdrawn for consultations.' 

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said Australian consular officials in Indonesia will arrange for the men's bodies to be repatriated to Australia, ensuring that they are treated with 'appropriate dignity and respect'.

'And I expect to be able to discuss further aspects of our relationship with Indonesia when our ambassador Paul Grigson returns to Australia at the end of this week,' Ms Bishop said. 

The consul general Majel Hind will formally identify the bodies.  

Ms Bishop hasn't ruled out cutting Australian aid to Indonesia in protest over the executions of Chan and Sukumaran.

Australia's ambassador to Indonesia Paul Grigson will return to Australia at the end of this week

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop (left) said Australian consular officials in Indonesia will arrange for the men's bodies to be repatriated to Australia, ensuring that they are treated with 'appropriate dignity and respect'

Australia gives Indonesia about $600 million in aid annually, and is its second largest international benefactor behind Japan.

Asked if Australia would respond to the executions by reducing the aid budget, Ms Bishop said it was under different consideration to diplomatic actions such as recalling the ambassador.

'Any announcement to the aid budget will be made at budget time in early May,' she told reporters in Canberra.

Mr Abbott stressed that Australia has a 'very important' relationship with Indonesia.

'But it has suffered as a result of what's been done over the last few hours,' he said.

'Whatever people think of the death penalty, whatever people think of drug crime, the fact is that these two families have suffered an appalling tragedy and I'm sure that every Australian's thoughts and prayers will be with those families at this time.' 

The Prime Minister said he understood people's anger at the executions, but said the government did not want to make a difficult situation worse.

'So I would say to people yes, you are absolutely entitled to be angry but we've got to be very careful to ensure that we do not allow our anger to make a bad situation worse,' he said. 

'The relationship between Australia and Indonesia is important, remains important, will always be important, will become more important as time goes by.

'While this is a dark moment in the relationship I am confident that the relationship will be restored for the great benefit of both our countries.' 

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten acknowledged Australians had the right to be outraged but rejected talk of boycotts.

'I don't and we shouldn't hold ordinary or individual Indonesian people responsible," he said.

'What Australians need to do is campaign against the death penalty wherever it exists.' 

Backlash begins: At 6am AEST, hundreds of Twitter users were already pledging to 'boycott Indonesia'

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The executions by firing squad occurred at 3:25am AEST on Wednesday evening and came despite months of pressure from the Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop.

Senior officials were already angered by a series of snubs from the Indonesians. President Widodo repeatedly refused to return Mr Abbott's phone calls on the issue.

Ms Bishop was also angered by the Indonesians' decision to announce the executions were going ahead on Anzac Day, one of Australia's most solemn days of remembrance. 

The Bali Nine duo's families released a short statement on Wednesday morning.

'Today we lost Myuran and Andrew. Our sons, our brothers. In the 10 years since they were arrested, they did all they could to make amends, helping many others,' it read.

'They asked for mercy, but there was none. They were immensely grateful for all the support they received. We too, will be forever grateful.'

Following the executions, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said: 'Indonesia has not just robbed two young men of their lives but robbed itself of two examples of the strengths of its justice system.'

Other Labor MPs condemned the killings, with Opposition frontbencher Tony Burke saying 'Lives lost. Nothing gained' and Federal Labor MP Anthony Albanese saying 'RIP Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran - a tragic loss of human life on a very sad day.'

Greens Leader Christine Milne said: 'The lives of these two Australians have been ended by firing squad at the direction of the Indonesian government. We in Australia must continue to advocate for an end to capital punishment.' 

Stern words: Julie Bishop has pleaded for the Indonesian government not to execute Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran for months

Joko Widodo, the president of Indonesia, is widely regarded as weak. He has ignored international pressure to cease executions of foreign drug convicts

Immediately following the executions, parliamentary secretary Steven Ciobo tweeted: 'There are few greater displays of abuse of power and regressive thinking than the death penalty #RIP', tweeted.

He was joined by western Sydney backbencher Fiona Scott, who said: 'The death penalty is barbaric and inhumane torture. Murder is murder.'

Brazil already recalled its ambassador in January when one of its citizens was executed by Indonesia.

But Indonesia forged ahead with more executions overnight, killing six others - including a Frenchman - and shrugging off pressure from UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

There is also the potential for other ramifications from Australia. 

Top human rights lawyer Geoffrey Robertson has suggested Australia could withdraw its $600 million of aid to Indonesia per year and redirect it to Nepal.  

'Nepal needs it more,' said Mr Robertson, who accused Indonesia of breaching international law in three instances. 

Ms Bishop and her Labor counterpart, Tanya Plibersek (right), have been a united force in their opposition to the executions

In an interview with ABC's 730 program on Tuesday evening, Ms Bishop refused to detail the consequences for the Indonesian government. 

'I don't intend to focus on the consequences,' she said. 

'But of course, should these executions proceed in the manner that I anticipate, of course there will be have to be consequences. I don't want to go into the details.' 

After months of pleading with the Indonesians - even offering a prisoner swap, paid by Australia - officials still worked on Mr Widodo until the last moment. 

Late on Tuesday evening, the Australian embassy in Jakarta circulated an extraordinary joint statement with the European Union and French government addressed to Mr Widodo. 

The statement said: 'It is not too late to change your mind.'

But with the exception of Filipino convict Mary Jane Fiesta Veloso - who was spared - Mr Widodo did not.