Mr Fonseka's lawyers have accused Ms Jansz of criticising witness

Courts told the editor of Sunday Leader not to criticise witnesses who are appearing at the hearing against the former army commander.

In the case against General Sarath Fonseka widely known as the "white flag" case, the military chief is accused of spreading public disaffection by quoting allegations that the defence secretary ordered surrendering Tamil Tiger leaders to be shot dead at the last stages of the war.

The accusations were first published in Sunday Leader.

Colombo High Court has warned Frederica Jansz to stop publishing articles related to the case while being a witness herself.

'Special police unit'

The lawyer representing Sarath Fonseka pointed out in courts that Sunday Leader editor has published critical articles against reports related to the case in Daily Mirror and Sunday Times newspapers.

There is a media crackdown. The police were sent to oppress the media   Sarath Fonseka

Ms Jansz responded that her evidence at the court has been misquoted by the said newspapers.

The judges told her that she should have complained to the court if there have been wrong reports.

Mr Fonseka is accused of endangering national harmony by alleging that Defence Secretary ordered the armed forces to shoot down surrendering Tamil Tiger leaders .

Meanwhile, the appeals court has appointed a three-member bench to hear Mr Fonseka's application seeking him to attend the parliamentary proceedings.

While leaving the court, the former general Sarath Fonseka accused the authorities of sending a special police unit to court in order to prevent him speaking to media.

"There is a media crackdown. The police were sent to oppress the media," he said.