UNITED NATIONS - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday condemned the "hateful" anti-Islam film that touched off anti-American protests in the Middle East and North Africa, calling for calm and restraint at the time of rising tensions.

"The secretary-general is deeply disturbed by the recent violence in Libya and elsewhere in the Middle East," said a statement issued here late Thursday by Ban's spokesman. "Nothing justifies such killings and attacks."

The UN chief "condemns the hateful film that appears to have been deliberately designed to sow bigotry and bloodshed," the statement added.

The statement came as angry demonstrations triggered by the film, reportedly made in the United States, have spread to several countries across the Middle East and North Africa.