A leading suspect in the deadly museum attack on foreign tourists in Tunisia has been killed in anti-terrorist operations, the country's prime minister says.

Prime Minister Habib Essid said Khaled Chaieb, also known as Abou Sakhr Lokman, was killed overnight in an operation in the Gafsa region near the Algerian border, State news agency TAP reported.

Chaieb is believed a prominent militant in al Qaida's North African arm, and suspected of leading or helping lead the March 18 attack on the National Bardo Museum.

Twenty-two people, mainly foreigners, and two gunmen were killed in the attack.

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