Mortar attack kills four in Somali capital

A mortar attack near Somalia's parliament building in the capital Mogadishu killed four people and injured eight others, police said on Thursday, adding that it appeared to be the work of the Islamist militant group al Shabaab.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility after the explosions, but the al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab frequently targets government buildings, hotels and security forces in Mogadishu in its bid to overthrow the Western-backed government.

"We do not know the target was but we believe al Shabaab was behind the attack," Major Mohamed Nur told Reuters.

Reuters witnesses described a blood-spattered scene about 300 meters from the house of parliament.