Explosion rocks Somali capital `Mogadishu.

Blast occurs close to heavily fortified gates of
airport in Mogadishu , witnesses and an official
say .

A suspected car bomb has exploded close to the
heavily fortified gates of the airport in Mogadishu ,
the entrance to the " green zone " and base of
foreign embassies in the Somali capital, according
to witnesses and a security official .

A security adviser, based at the airport , reportedly
told Reuters news agency by telephone that there
had been an attack involving a suspected VBIED,
or vehicle -borne improvised explosive device, in the
area on Wednesdasy , without giving further
details.

A plume of smoke was seen rising high in the sky
after the large blast, witnesses told AFP news
agency .

The Somali armed group al- Shabab often use car
bombs but there was no immediate claim of
responsibility.