JAKARTA: Indonesia has postponed the transfer of six convicted drug smugglers, including five foreigners, to a prison island for execution due to technical problems and to allow the

two Australians among them to spend more time with their

families, an official said Tuesday.

They are among eight convicts who are facing imminent execution despite international appeals for clemency. Among them are Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, the ringleaders of a group of nine Australians arrested in 2005 for attempting to smuggle 8.3 kilograms (18.3 pounds) of heroin to Australia from the Indonesian resort island of Bali.

Six former Australian prime ministers — Malcolm Fraser, Bob Hawke, Paul Keating, John Howard, Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard — on Monday added their voices to calls to spare the Australians.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Lestari Marsudi said she understands the position of Australia government to give representation on their behalf, but noted that the death penalty is part of Indonesian law.

“The decision to impose the death penalty by the Indonesian court is not directed to a particular country or a national of certain country.” she said. “It should be underlined that the issue is purely law enforcement, a law enforcement against serious crime, law enforcement

by a sovereign country, Indonesia.”