CANBERRA, June 1 (Xinhuanet) -- Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said Wednesday that the Indonesian embassy here has been closed after receiving a suspicious package.

    Downer told the parliament that the embassy is now surrounded by fire engines and other emergency service equipment.

    He said the incident was very unhelpful to the case of Schapelle Corby and the Australian government's efforts to negotiate a prisoner exchange agreement with Indonesia.

    Corby, a 27-year-old Australian, has been sentenced to 20-year imprisonment for drug smuggling by an Indonesian court.

    "This is a matter of great concern and it is the sort of thing that is very unhelpful," Downer said.

    Downer said vilifying Indonesia over Corby's sentence for drug smuggling would be counter-productive.

    "If people want to help Schapelle Corby, the worst thing for them to do is to be abusive and negative towards Indonesia," he told reporters.

    He said Australians needed to show respect for the Indonesian judicial system to ensure smooth negotiations between the two countries for a prisoner transfer agreement. Enditem