Huge blast in Somali capital, clouds of smoke seen

A loud explosion was heard in Somalia's capital on Tuesday, and huge clouds of smoke could be seen, accompanied by gunfire, a Reuters witness said.

The cause of the blast was yet to be established.

Al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab militants have claimed responsibility for several recent explosions in Mogadishu, including a car bomb and gun attack last week at a popular beach restaurant in Mogadishu that killed 10 people.