Twin blasts in Uganda capital Kampala kill at least 50

At least 50 people, including an American, have been killed in twin blast in the Ugandan capital Kampala.

It is not known what caused the blasts, which police said went off at a rugby club and at a restaurant as football fans watched the World Cup final.

"These bombs were definitely targeting World Cup crowds," Inspector General of Police Kale Kayihura said.

Somali militants have in the past threatened to attack Kampala; Ugandan troops are deployed in Mogadishu.

About 5,000 African Union troops from Uganda and Burundi are based in Mogadishu to protect the fragile interim government.

The Amisom force is engaged in frequent firefights with Islamist insurgents which control much of southern and central Somalia.
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Inspector General Kayihura said he believed Somalia's militant group al-Shabab could be behind the attack. If true, it would be the first time the group has carried out attacks outside Somalia.

In Mogadishu, an al-Shabab commander said he was "happy" with the attacks in Uganda.

But Sheik Yusuf Sheik Issa refused to confirm or deny that al-Shabab was responsible.