Five killed in Mogadishu bomb blast

At least five persons were killed and scores injured in a bomb explosion outside a police station in Mogadishu on Sunday, police said.

A vehicle loaded with explosives blew up in the middle of Maka Al Mukarama road, a police officer told Xinhua news agency.

The victims were largely civilians who were using the road.

Pictures from the scene showed the blown up vehicle engulfed in fire.

"The explosion was so huge... You can see the smoke covering the whole place. Several people have died and others injured," Muhidin Farah, a witness, told Xinhua.

The explosion came as security forces have in the last few months intensified traffic checks and operations in Mogadishu.

It is the first explosion in the city in more than a month since the deadly Ramadan month attack at two restaurants which claimed 30 lives.

No group had yet claimed responsibility for the attack.

--IANS

py/dg