Mogadishu, 13 Arpril-(ANA)-A US congressman has had a narrow escape on a visit to Mogadishu after Somali insurgents fired mortars towards his plane as it was about to take off.
Airport officials said one mortar had landed at the airport as Donald Payne's plane was due to fly and five others after his plane departed.
Mr Payne had just met leaders of Somalia's government in the capital.
He had discussed ways that the international community might be able to help war-torn Somalia.
Abukar Hassan, a police officer at Mogadishu airport, told Reuters news agency: "One mortar landed at the airport when Payne's plane was due to fly and five others after he left and no-one was hurt."
Three people were wounded when one of the mortars hit a nearby neighbourhood, residents told Reuters.
Mr Payne had met President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, among other Somali officials.
The New Jersey Democrat said it was his first visit to Somalia since the early 1990s, when the country last had a stable government. (ANA)
