Editors and publishers in Russia have written an open letter condemning a new government decree which will require them to prove their publications are not bad for people's health.

They say it's a crude attempt to curb press freedom.

The regulations were drawn up by the health ministry, after it expressed concern that the printing practises of some rogue publishers were damaging readers' eyesight and staining their hands with ink.

The rules cover the size of the print and columns, and the quality of the ink.The BBC Moscow Correspondent says the press fears that the rules could be used by corrupt bureaucrats to extort more bribes, or even to close undesirable newspapers.