Three people were killed and seven others injured in a suicide bombing in the Somali capital of Mogadishu on Sunday evening, the police said.

The suicide bomber, who hurled explosives from inside a vehicle near the Bar Itaia Restaurant along Mogadishu's Makkah Al Mukaramah Road, also died.

"Four were killed and seven others, mostly patrols at the nearby restaurant, were injured in an explosion which followed by gunfire," said a officer who declined to be named.

Witnesses said the car was parked in front of the restaurant, which is mainly frequented by foreigners.

No group has claimed responsibility for the latest blast which came hours after four people were killed and several others injured at a checkpoint in Afgoye town, about 30 km west of Mogadishu.

Al-Qaida allied militant group al-Shabab has carried out similar attacks before, targeting Somali and African Union troops.

Xinhua