Reporters Without Borders has condemned the media blackout in Fiji this week before today's election.

The Australian government and Murdoch's News Limited NWS.AX, which publishes the Fiji Times, condemned the media crackdown.

German state broadcaster ARD condemned the media ban, calling it a "massive encroachment" on the freedom to report.

Washington said it shared the concerns of international observers who condemned the media coverage around the vote as hugely biased towards the Kremlin.

Garda Headquarters was responding to the Law Society which has condemned the media tip-off in a letter to the Garda Commissioner, Mr Pat Byrne.