The "Masked Avengers" -- Marc-Antoine Audette and Sebastien Trudel of Montreal's CKOI Radio -- managed to get ahold of President Jacques Chirac of France and make Chirac think he was talking to prime minister-designate Stephen Harper.

An excerpt from the BBC story:

Audette said: "It was the first time Sebastien and me had spoken to a head of state."

As Mr Harper and Mr Chirac had yet to speak, "We said, why not, we'll give it a go and we're delighted that it worked," Audette said.

Mr Chirac began by saying: "I would like to offer my congratulations for your election victory. We have excellent relations and I'm sure they'll carry on in the best spirit."

Audette, in a deliberately thick French-Canadian accent, then complained that French newspapers had portrayed him in a bad light.

Mr Chirac responded: "You can't prevent newspapers from saying any old stuff. That's true in France and it's true in Canada."

"Exactly Mr President, liberty, equality and fraternity. Amen," said Audette.

Mr Chirac, 73, then invited "Mr Harper" to visit France.