Families of Indian crew on board the hijacked cargoshipIceberg have been told the vessel could be freed by Somali pirates next month.

The 5,400–dwt Dubai-owned ship (built 1976) has beenheld since March 2010 .

Families of the seafarers had stepped up pressure by visiting the owner AzalShipping in Dubai, and the Indian Embassy in the UAE told them the men could bereleased by the middle of July after a breakthrough in talks.

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