DHAKA: Tunisia’s prime minister says 21 people are dead after an attack on a major museum, including 17 foreign tourists - and that two or three of the attackers remain at large.

Habib Essid told national television that the foreigners included tourists from Poland, Italy, Germany and Spain, reports gulfnews.com.

He said that two of the attackers were killed in a gunfight with police on Wednesday, and that security forces are hunting for two or three others believed to have been involved.

The attack was the worst in years on a tourist site in Tunisia, which is struggling to solidify its young democracy and prevent violence by extremists.

A Tunisian security officer and a cleaning woman were also killed, the interior ministry spokesman said.

BDST: 1553 HRS, MAR 19, 2015

** 19 killed in Tunisia attack