Indonesia has asked phone companies to investigate whether they helped to tap the President's phone. Source: AAP
THE Australian embassy in Jakarta is being pelted with eggs by protesters as Prime Minister Tony Abbott responds to calls for an apology from Indonesia over the phone-tapping scandal.
More than 1600 police have been deployed near the Australian and US embassies plus several other potential targets in the capital ahead of members of the hardline group, the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), attending rallies after Friday prayers.
Already protesters in front of the Australian embassy have burnt photos of Mr Abbott and an Australian flag.
The protesters, from the Kommando Perjuan Merah Putih (Red and White Fighter Commandos) have also for a second day called for war with Australia and demanded the Australian ambassador, Greg Moriarty, be expelled from Indonesia.
"Our nation has been insulted by Australia. Let's attack them," one of the group shouted outside the embassy on Friday afternoon.
The FPI has previously rallied in support of convicted terrorist and suspected Bali bombing mastermind Abu Bakar Bashir.
Mr Abbott, who has promised a swift and courteous response to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's call for apology, met with the national security committee of cabinet on Thursday night and was declining to comment on Friday.
Indonesians are angry over reports Australia tapped their president's phone, and that of his wife, in 2009 and have demanded Mr Abbott apologise and explain how and why it occurred.
Indonesia's former intelligence chief said the diplomatic row could be resolved with an apology.
"Just apologise and ... forgive and forget," Abdullah Mahmud Hendropriyono told the ABC on Friday.
Mr Hendropriyono admitted in a 2004 television interview that Jakarta had spied on Australia.
Since this row began, Indonesia has halted co-operation on tackling people smuggling and the sharing of intelligence. Military exercises scheduled to take place in Darwin have also been put on hold.
Gita Wirjawan, Indonesia's trade minister, has warned his country may suspend talks on a comprehensive economic partnership agreement with Australia.
A senior ranking source from the Indonesian National Police anti-people smuggling taskforce said the asylum-seeker issue remained highly sensitive.
"It's too sensitive to talk about," he told AAP.
Immigration Minister Scott Morrison declined to comment on the state of border protection activities with Indonesia but said Australia's Operation Sovereign Borders was continuing.
"(It) is designed to ensure the operation stands or falls on no single measure," he said.
"We have the ability to work through our chain of measures to ensure that whatever circumstances we face ... we are able to adapt and ensure the people smugglers will be frustrated."
The issues between Mr Abbott and President Yudhoyono were being addressed by them personally and he would not comment further.
Former prime minister Julia Gillard said US President Barack Obama's approach to German Chancellor Angela Merkel over a similar bugging scandal set the benchmark for a diplomatic response.
"If he (Obama) had been aware he wouldn't have authorised it, and he could certainly say for the future that it wouldn't happen again," she told CNN.
"I think that that's an appropriate response from Australia to Indonesia at this very difficult time."
Former foreign minister Alexander Downer said Mr Abbott should "extend a friendly hand to President Yudhoyono", but not confirm the bugging occurred or say sorry.
"If Tony Abbott were to say 'gee I'm sorry about that', that would reveal that in fact, the allegation was true," he told Sky News.
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