US piracy plan

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton disclosed a four-point plan to tackle piracy in the Gulf of Aden.



Pirate attacks increased since last week despite anti-piracy patrols by the US and other navies.



Mrs Clinton said an expanded international effort is needed as well as freezing pirates\' assets, and plugging gaps in the shipping industry\'s own defenses.



The US four-point plan includes sending an envoy to the Somali donors\' conference in Brussels on April 23 to work on plans to improve the situation in Somalia.



Mrs Clinton said the US would work with the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia to expand the multi-national response to piracy.



She called for states to take responsibility for prosecuting and imprisoning captured pirates.