Five civilians have been killed and 13 others were wounded in a car bombing in central Somalia.

Police said a car rigged with explosives detonated near a busy market in the district of Buloburde in Hiran region.

Islamist militant group al-Shabab frequently targets civilian and military targets.

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud recently launched the second phase of a major offensive against al-Shabab.

With the help of local clan militias, African Union troops and US air support, the military has managed to capture several towns and villages.

But correspondents say there have also been significant setbacks with the jihadists fighting back to retake some areas.