In a sign of increasing international tension over Indonesia's enforcement of the death penalty, Jakarta has recalled its key official in Brazil over what it says was unacceptable treatment of him at a formal ceremony.

Indonesia's foreign ministry said the country's new ambassador went to the Brazilian presidential palace to present his credentials but his involvement in the ceremony was postponed without warning.

In a statement the Indonesian foreign ministry said the act was "unfriendly" and it had recalled the envoy, Toto Riyanto, in protest.

A Brazilian man is one of several prisoners in Indonesian jails currently on death row who is expected to be executed along with Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran.

Another Brazilian was executed in January for drug offences, and Brazil recalled its ambassador to Indonesia at the time.

The Netherlands also withdrew its ambassador for the same reason.

Indonesia has reacted strongly to any questioning of its right to put to death drug criminals.

The policy, lapsed under former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, is being enforced by the new president Joko Widodo who has said the country faces a drugs emergency.

Australia's requests for a stay of execution for Chan and Sukumaran hit a raw nerve when Prime Minister Tony Abbott linked aid given for tsunami recovery to pleas for clemency.

Since then Indonesia has accepted a clarification from Australia that it was referring to its long-standing cooperation in many areas between the two countries.

Indonesia also hit back at the United Nations when the world body asked Jakarta to reconsider the use of the death penalty for drugs offences, which included a direct appeal from the UN's secretary-general to the foreign affairs minister.

In its statement, the ministry said that no foreign country or any other party could interfere with law enforcement in Indonesia, including the law relating to eradicating drug trafficking.

Chan and Sukumaran were visited by their families again this weekend as they wait for the move to a prison island pending their execution.

Indonesia's attorney-general has said that no date has been set for the planned executions which will include several other foreigners.