'Suicide car bomb' explodes at Somalia airport

At least two people have been killed by a car bomb attack on Somalia's main airport in Mogadishu, residents say.

Witnesses say a suicide bomber drove a car into the airport entrance before the explosion.

The area is normally guarded by African Union peacekeepers and there are some reports AU soldiers may be among the dead.

The al-Qaeda linked group al-Shabab is battling the AU-backed government for control of Mogadishu.

"The car powerfully rammed an Amison [African Union Mission in Somalia] troops post at the airport's gate," Mohammed Abdi, a local shopkeeper, told Reuters news agency, saying plumes of black smoke rose into the air.

He said there had been two explosions, killing eight people, including several AU soldiers.

However, a Somali military official said those killed were two women begging outside the airport's entrance.