Two Spaniards have been ordered to leave Chile immediately, after they caused widespread alarm by telling their family in a bogus e-mail message that they'd been kidnapped by supporters of General Pinochet.

News of the fake kidnapping emerged on Tuesday when the Spaniards' relatives received word that they were being held.

The e-mail said the Spaniards would be held until the law lords in Britain ruled on the Pinochet case.

The two, a father and daughter, admitted that it had been a joke after Chilean police and the Spanish embassy became involved.