UN chief condemns 'deplorable' Tunis attack

 UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon condemned what he called the "deplorable" attack on Tunisia's national museum that left at least 17 tourists dead on Wednesday, AFP reports.

The UN Security Council also slammed what it called "this heinous act."

Ban "condemns in the strongest terms today’s attack" against the Bardo Museum and "conveys his deepest condolences to the families of the victims of this deplorable act," said his deputy spokesman Farhan Haq.

The secretary general also "expresses his solidarity with the Tunisian people and the Tunisian authorities," the spokesman said.

Gunmen killed at least 17 tourists of various nationalities in a brazen attack before being killed in a police assault, officials said. A Tunisian bus driver and a policeman were also reported dead.

"The members of the Security Council stressed that no terrorist attack can reverse the path of Tunisia towards democracy and all efforts directed towards economic recovery and development," the UN top body said in a statement.