Jakarta and Paris agreed to his transfer. In the agreement, Jakarta said Atlaoui was allowed to be returned on "humanitarian grounds" because he was ill. Atlaoui was driven from Salemba prison in Jakarta and escorted to the city's main airport on Tuesday,

Indonesian authorities are set to return an ailing French national who has been on death row in the Southeast Asian country, under an arrangement between the two nations.

JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia was set to repatriate a Frenchman on Tuesday who has spent two decades on death row for drug offences, a senior minister said, joining a list of long-term prisoners sent home by Jakarta in recent months.

A Frenchman on death row in Indonesia since 2007 for drug offences left prison on Tuesday ahead of his transfer to France, officials told AFP. Indonesia, which has some of the world's toughest drug laws,

Indonesia has signed a deal to send home an ailing French national on death row for drug offenses. Serge Atlaoui, 61, has spent almost 20 years in an Indonesian prison.

Indonesia and France will sign an agreement on Friday for the repatriation of a Frenchman on death row since 2007 for alleged drug offences, a senior Indonesian minister has said.

JAKARTA - Indonesia is likely to sign an agreement with France before the end of this month, over the repatriation of a Frenchman on death row on charges of drug offences, a senior minister said on Jan 21.

Indonesia and France have signed an agreement to repatriate a French citizen who was facing the death penalty over drug offenses. Serge Atlaoui has been in jail in Indonesia since 2005.

A Frenchman on death row in Indonesia since 2007 for drug offences left prison on Tuesday ahead of his transfer to France, joining a list of long-term prisoners sent home by Jakarta in recent months.