DHAKA: Australian prime minister Tony Abbott has promised Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono a full and courteous response to his demand for an examination of reported Australian eavesdropping on senior Indonesian leaders’ phones.

Indonesia has downgraded its relations with Australia and suspended cooperation on people smuggling following outrage over reported tapping of cell phones belonging to Dr Yudhoyono, his wife and another eight senior Indonesian government ministers and officials in 2009.

Abbott told Parliament he had received a letter on Thursday from Dr Yudhoyono demanding an explanation of Australia’s phone tapping activity in 2009.

‘I want to assure the House that the government will respond swiftly, fully and courteously to the president’s letter,’ he said, reports The Straits Times.

BDST: 1512 HRS, NOV 20, 2013
RoR/GCP