The government announced it would prepare a law within a month to ease restrictions on building churches, while banning protests in front of places of worship, after attacks on Cairo churches.

The government is also moving to reopen churches closed under President Mubarak. It would study the cases of 48 churches shuttered during Mubarak's reign and decide on reopening them on a case-by-case basis.

The Cabinet will also draft a new law granting equality to Muslims and Christians in building churches and mosques.