MOGADISHU, Somalia (April 13, 2009)--A Mogadishu airport staff member said mortar shells were fired toward the airport as a plane carrying a U.S. congressman took off safely from the Somali capital Monday.

An airport staffer reached by telephone at the control tower says the plane carrying New Jersey Democrat Donald Payne took off safely Monday.

He said none of the six mortar shells fired landed in the airport.

The airport staffer refused to give his full name because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

Payne met with Somalia's president and prime minister during his one-day visit to Mogadishu on Monday.

They discussed piracy, security and cooperation between Somalia and the United States.

Payne is chairman of the House of Representatives' Foreign Affairs subcommittee on Africa.