Twin suicide bombs kill 13 near Mogadishu airport

The al-Qaeda-aligned al-Shabaab group has been blamed for a string of bloody assaults in Somalia and neighbouring Kenya, and is fighting to overthrow Mogadishu's internationally backed government.

"At least 13 people were confirmed to have died in two explosions. One of the vehicles went off near a security checkpoint and another close to a UN compound," said Bishaar Abdi Gedi, a police official.

"The security forces managed to intercept the attackers and foiled the attacks [before they could kill more]," Gedi said.

A statement by al-Shabaab said it was a suicide attack by its militants.

"The two explosions were carried out by two brave Mujahedeen suicide bombers and they have targeted two different locations where the so-called AMISOM peacekeepers are stationed," it said, referring to the African Union military mission to Somalia.

An AFP journalist at the scene heard gunfire after the explosions tore through the area.

The city's airport is heavily fortified and adjoins the capital's main military base, holding AMISOM's 22,000-strong force backing the government in the battle against al-Shabaab insurgents.

AMISOM troops were deployed to Somalia in 2007 to defend the government against attacks by al-Shabaab.

"Around 9am there was an explosion outside one of our gates, about 200 metres away," mission spokesman Joe Kibet told AFP.

"It looks like an attack, they intended to attack. Now the situation is calm and our personnel is working on it," he added.

One of the vehicles went off near a security checkpoint and another close to a UN compound. - Bishaar Abdi Gedi

Al-Shabab was largely forced out of the capital five years ago but continues to carry out frequent attacks on military, government and civilian targets.

In recent months they have claimed attacks on bases of the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia, as well as civilian targets including hotels.

This year is considered critical for the group, which is eager to disrupt an expected change of government leadership due in the coming months.

Somalia was supposed to hold national elections this year but is instead going to hold what diplomats call a "limited franchise election" in which ordinary citizens do not participate. The UN now hopes a one-person-one-vote election will be possible in 2020.