Restoration work has begun on damaged artefacts at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, head of antiquities Zahi Hawass said, calling for tighter security.

Hawass, Egypt's most prominent archaeologist, said a review of antiquities in the aftermath of anti-government protests revealed that 70 objects were broken, of which 25 were now being restored, with work to begin soon on the remaining 45.

"There needs to be tighter security around the museum and fire trucks on standby. The museum can be set ablaze. This would be a disaster," Hawass said in a statement.

The military is guarding the museum, which is in the heart of Cairo and has on display some 125,000 antiquities, including the funeral mask of King Tutankhamun.

As the protests started last month, hundreds of Cairo residents rushed to form a human chain around the museum to protect it from vandals. But looters broke into the building and damaged several antiquities, including two mummies and some statuettes.Author: Aya Batrawy