Belgians complain over 'revolution'

For a moment on Wednesday evening the Belgian public and senior politicians looked on in anguish as a TV channel relayed news of the Flemish speaking half of the country declaring independence.

However, 24 hours after the spoof report those feelings of terror have been replaced by anger and annoyance at what many have claimed was a stupid prank.

Anne-Marie Lizin, chair of the senate, told the Associated Press: "Ambassadors who were worried asked what they had to tell their capitals.

"This fiction was seen as a reality and it created a catastrophic image of the country."

The spoof report, which noted after half an hour of the programme that it was fictional, aimed to highlight the political divide between the Dutch-speaking north of the county and the French-speaking south.

Flanders is a prosperous region and many political figures see the royal family and the ties that still exist between the north and the southern territory of Wallonia as the only thing that binds the country.

The royal family condemned the stunt as being in "bad taste" and political leaders in both Flanders and Wallonia condemned the act.

Pictures from the programme showed reporters outside the Royal Palace flanked by supporters from both territories and shadowy figures boarding a military plane, which was supposed to represent the royal family leaving the country.

One group that did enjoy the programme was the far-right separatist Flemish Interest Party, which congratulated the TV channel for the production. The Flemish Interest Party advocates a free Flanders with no monarchy.