Australian PM promises Indonesia full response
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CANBERRA, Australia -- Prime Minister Tony Abbott promised Indonesia's president on Thursday a full and courteous response to his demand for an examination of reported Australian eavesdropping on senior Indonesian officials' phones.
Indonesia has recalled its ambassador, downgraded its relations with Australia and suspended cooperation on fighting people smuggling following outrage over reported tapping of cellphones belonging to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, his wife and eight government ministers and officials in 2009.
Reports of the alleged spying surfaced this week and cited documents from National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden.
Indonesia on Thursday withdrew six F-16 fighter planes from a joint exercise in northern Australia three days ahead of schedule. A joint army exercise was also terminated in West Java.
In Jakarta, around 100 protesters burned paper Australian flags outside the Australian Embassy and chanted for the ambassador's expulsion.//DPA
