The government in Cuba has reacted with scorn to an attempt by Cuban exiles to seek the arrest of President Fidel Castro on charges of genocide.

A foreign ministry spokesman in Havana called it a ridiculous hoax which did not merit a formal reaction.

His comments come after a Cuban exile group the Cuban American National Foundation asked a court in the Spanish capital, Madrid, to seek President Castro's detention.

Correspondents say they are trying to mirror legal moves against Chile's former military leader, General Augusto Pinochet, who was arrested in London on a Spanish warrent.

Mr Pinochet is awaiting the decision of Britain's highest court on whether he can be extradited to Spain.

A judge there is investigating atrocities committed under former military dictatorships in Chile and Argentina.