Authorities fear revenge attacks after anti-Islam activists in Denmark and Sweden burned and damaged copies of the Quran, inciting outrage in the Muslim world and demands that governments ban such acts.

The government is facing criticism from some quarters that border controls are too weak, while others say people seeking asylum are being treated inhumanely.

He nonetheless welcomes the proposal by the National Recovery Council for borders to be reopened from March 1.

Tourists from Australia and other visa-free countries, however, will not be allowed to enter until July and travellers from the rest of the world will be kept out until October.