MOGADISHU (AFP) - At least 10 people were killed in two explosions in Galkayo, central Somalia, on Sunday (Aug 21) morning, a local official said.

"There were two car bomb blasts which targeted the local government headquarters. More than 10 people have been killed," said police officer Mohamed Abdiqani.

Local resident Hassan Abdukadir said he counted a dozen bodies, some burned beyond recognition. "It was horrible. The first blast was caused by a truck loaded with explosives, and the second was a minibus," he said.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but the Al-Shabaab militant group carries out frequent attacks against government targets using suicide car bombers.

In March, Shabaab militants attacked a hotel in Galkayo killing at six people including a senior local government official.

An Al-Qaeda aligned group, the Shabaab is fighting to overthrow the internationally-backed government in the capital Mogadishu and it is expected to try and violently disrupt elections due to be held in September and October.