West Afghan Officials Destroy Books Coming From Iran

NIMROZ -- Officials in Afghanistan's Nimroz Province say thousands of books thought to have been printed in Iran were thrown into the Helmand River this month, Radio Free Afghanistan reports.

Nimroz Governor Ghulam Dastgir Azad told the station that the books were destroyed in accordance with a central government decision.

Azad said all the books were confiscated from individuals crossing the Afghan-Iranian border.

Officials at the provincial culture office said the books' contents could undermine Afghan security and national unity.

They did not say what the specific contents were.