The Kenyan leadership has been urged to close the country's border with Somalia as a precautionary measure against the unbridled Somali insurgency.

On Friday, Kenya's Parliamentary Committee on National Security petitioned the government to enforce an 'immediate' border closure citing potential raids and territorial violations by Somalia's al-Shabaab gunmen, a Press TV correspondent reported.

"We call on the government to immediately close the Kenyan-Somalia border to stop the extremists from infiltrating into Kenya," said the committee's chair Fred Kapondi.

The Kenyan Army has also ratcheted up security measures alongside the two countries' common border cracking down on smuggling activities which are suspected to be carried out by insurgents.

Nairobi has long joined the international community in denouncing al-Shabaab as a 'terrorist' organization with alleged links with al-Qaeda.

"The government must take these threats from terrorists operating in Somalia as serious," Kapondi added.

The potential shutdown would, however, entrap Somali refugees in the crossfire between al-Shabaab, Somali military and pro-government militia.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) says each day an average of 20 Somalis flee the violence in Somalia to Kenya which currently shelters more than 250,000 of the fugitives.

Mogadishu has invited international military action against the gunmen who have broken their promise of non-violence to the government and have recently been advancing in central Somalia and the capital.

Kenya and Ethiopia have so far responded positively to the call.

HN/HGHMMN