Pirates to free Yemen cargo ship

Somali pirates have agreed to release a Yemeni cargo ship without ransom after successful negotiations between the hijackers, local elders and a Yemeni official, a local official said yesterday.

"No ransom was paid, but after negotiations, the pirates will get off the ship soon. The Yemeni ship will be released in the coming hours," said Ali Abdi Aware, state minister of the northern province of Puntland.

The MV Amani was seized on Nov 25.