An Indian cargo ship, which was anchored at Somalia's port Mogadishu, has been hijacked by pirates, reports said.

The pirates have taken it northwards up the coast, reports said, quoting maritime officials.

The incident happened late on Sunday. The pirate began moving the ship two days later, and ferried 800 tonnes of general household goods, heading for the north of the Horn of Africa nation.

An official of the Kenyan branch of the Seafarers Assistance Programme was quoted as saying that the pirates, who were yet to be identified, have demanded an unspecified ransom.

It is the second hijack since Ethiopian troops helped Somali government forces throw out an Islamist movement from Mogadishu in December.

It also comes close on the heels of heavy fighting in the city, sparked by an Ethiopian offensive on Islamist insurgents and clan fighters.