US unveils plan to tackle piracy

Washington, 16 April-(ANA)-US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has unveiled a four-point plan to tackle piracy in the Gulf of Aden.

She said an expanded international effort was needed, as well as freezing pirates' assets, and plugging gaps in the shipping industry's own defences.

Improving the situation in Somalia itself was also key, she said.

Pirate attacks have increased in the past few days, including on US vessels, despite anti-piracy patrols by the US and other navies.

Mrs Clinton said: "We may be dealing with a 17th-Century crime, but we need to bring 21st-Century assets to bear."

The US Navy shot dead three pirates a few days ago in the rescue of a US cargo ship captain who had been taken hostage from his own ship. (ANA)

FA/ANA/16 April 2009---