Seven people have been killed in a car bomb explosion near the international airport in the Somalian capital of Mogadishu.
The wreckage of a car shortly after it exploded near the entrance to Mogadishu international airport. Photo: AFP
A car full of explosives was detonated in front of a tea shop just outside the airport - in an area where many foreign diplomats are based. At least 15 other people were wounded.
The Al Shabaab group said the blast was carried out by a suicide bomber, and that "three U.N. white men" were killed along with 13 Somali soldiers guarding the officials.
Somalia is still in chaos two decades after the fall of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre.
Many diplomats live in Nairobi as it is not safe to stay in Mogadishu, and do not venture outside the airport when they visit Somalia.
The airport has several safety perimeter fences and checkpoints, and houses a newly-built British embassy along with a large UN compound.