Blast, gunfire heard in centre of Somali capital: Witness

Mogadishu: A large blast was heard in the centre of the Somali capital Mogadishu followed by gunfire, a Reuters witness reported.

The cause of the explosion was not immediately clear, but the Islamist militant group al Shabaab frequently launches bomb and gun attacks against officials and others in the capital in its bid to topple Somalia`s Western-backed government.