A car bomb went off on Saturday in central Mogadishu near a hotel popular with government officials and businessmen, injuring at least one person, police and witnesses said.

A car bomb went off on Saturday in central Mogadishu near a hotel popular with government officials and businessmen, injuring at least one person, police and witnesses said.

"There was a car bomb explosion near the rear gate of the Maka Al Mukarama hotel. It seems that the car was parked there loaded with explosives but we are still investigating casualties", police officer Mohamed Mire told AFP.

Witnesses told AFP that casualties were carried from the scene of the blast, but it was not clear if they were injured or dead.

Police confirmed at least one person was injured in the blast, which appeared to target the hotel, popular with government officials and businessmen who have returned home after years abroad.

"It was a really big explosion and the street was busy when it happened," said Hussein Issa, who witnessed the blast.

The hotel was hit by a car bomb in November that left several people dead and the area around the hotel has also been targeted several times recently.

In February alone, major attacks in Mogadishu have included a car bomb at the gates of the airport, a major suicide attack on the presidential palace and a car bombing on a cafe close to the intelligence headquarters.

No party has so far claimed responsibility but similar attacks in the past have been claimed by the Shebab, the Al-Qaeda-linked group which African Union troops are battling in Somalia.

In the latest advance against the Shebab, Somali government forces backed by African Union troops on Thursday captured the small town of Buula Burde, in the southern Hiran region bordering Ethiopia.