A senior Spanish judge has asked the authorities in Switzerland and Luxembourg to freeze any bank accounts held by the former Chilean military leader, General Augusto Pinochet.

Judge Baltazar Garzon is preparing documents to have General Pinochet extradited to Spain from Britain, where he is being detained in hospital.

He wants General Pinochet to stand trial for alleged genocide and torture.

The judge said he wanted to ensure that General Pinochet would pay any fines or damages if he is eventually tried in Spain.

Some Spanish prosecutors, however, have said they will oppose any extradition.

They argue that Spanish courts do not have the authority to try General Pinochet.