The United States will join international efforts to fight against piracy off the Horn of Africa, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said here Wednesday.

The United States and the international community will "explore ways to track and freeze pirate assets," Clinton told reporters, noting "pirates are buying more and more sophisticated equipment ... buying faster and more capable vessels."

She also said that the United States will send an envoy to a Somali donors conference this week to seek more effective ways to halt piracy off the Somali coast.

"Our envoy will work with other partners to help the Somalis assist us in cracking down on pirate bases and in decreasing incentives for young Somali men to engage in piracy," she said.

Despite sustained patrols by international warships, piracy is rampant recently off coast of the war-torn Horn of Africa nation of Somalia.

(Xinhua News Agency April 16, 2009)