One civilian was killed and another seriously wounded on Thursday when mortars fired by Al Shabab insurgents exploded close to the presidential palace in Mogadishu, police said on Friday.

Explosions were heard in the heavily guarded government district around Villa Somalia, the presidential palace.

"Several rounds of mortar shells landed in the neighborhood where the palace is located," police officer Jama Mohamed said, adding one person was killed and another wounded.

The Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement posted on a pro-Al-Shabab website.

"The attack is part of operations carried out inside Mogadishu by the "Mujahedeen fighters"," the statement read.

Al-Shabab, who are fighting to overthrow the internationally backed government in Mogadishu, carry out regular attacks in the capital.

Source: MENA