Terrorist group Al-Shabaab claims responsibility for mortar attack on U.S. Congressman,Somali militants fire at U.S. lawmaker

MOGADISHU, April 13 -Terrorist group al- Shabaab claimed Monday that it was responsible for the mortar attack on visiting U.S. Congressman Rep. Donald Payne's , according to reports from agencies.Sheikh Hussein Ali Enditem, spokesman of the group, said that at the Mogadishu airport, they fired several mortars on the U.S. congressman who was about to leave the country after a brief visit during which he held meetings with senior Somali Talaban government officials, said reports. .
Congressman Donald Payne speaks to the media after meetings with ex jehadist Somali talabn President Shiekh Sharif Shiekh Ahmed and UN technocrat Pirate Kingpin Prime Minister Omar Abdurashid Ali Sharmarke in the Somali capital Mogadishu on April 13, 2009. Payne discussed with Somali leaders about political affiars and security matters particularly the rampant piracy off the coast of Somalia. Several mortars were fired at the Mogadishu airport as Payne was about to leave the country, but he was unhurt.
At least three people were wounded after mortars landed in residential areas around the airport in the Somali capital. Security officials said Payne's plane left safely from the airport. Payne is the first American official to visit Mogadishu since the election of the Islamist talaban President Shiekh Sharif Shiekh Ahmed early this year.
Somali militants fire at U.S. lawmaker
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