Essebsi admitted “there were failures” in the country’s security mechanism, in an interview with Paris Match.
“The police and intelligence were not systematic enough to ensure the safety of the museum,” he said.
But he also insisted his security forces were quick to respond after the attack and to prevent further deaths.
“We were there 10 minutes later,” he told iTele and Europe 1.
Essebsi also vowed that an anti-terrorism law “will be voted rapidly”, adding: “Libya is one of our problems.”
Officials said the Bardo gunmen had trained in neighbouring Libya, where IS has militant camps and is battling local militia for control of the country’s oil wealth.
Both Tunisia and Libya have seen an upsurge in Islamist extremism since separate uprisings that toppled veteran strongmen in 2011.
– IS threat –
But Tunisia has taken pride in forming a democratic government — in marked contrast to Libya or Egypt, which has also been shaken by turmoil since its 2011 revolt.
The IS group has threatened more attacks in Tunisia.
The dead tourists were four Italians, three Japanese, three French, two Spaniards, a Colombian, an Australian-Colombian, a British woman, a Belgian woman, three Poles and a Russian.
On Sunday, Essebsi laid a wreath at the museum for the victims, who included a Tunisian policeman.
The attack in the heart of Tunis was unprecedented, but dozens of police and military personnel have been killed in attacks blamed on Islamist militants, who are battling the army in the Mount Chaambi region near the Algerian border.
A Tunisian soldier was killed and two others injured when their vehicle hit a landmine “planted by terrorist elements” in a mountainous region near the Algerian border, the defence ministry said.
Tunisian newspapers demanded that the authorities do more to combat extremism.
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