BOSSASO, Somalia, Dec 1 (Reuters) - Somali pirates have agreed to release a Yemeni cargo ship, the MV Amani, without ransom, after negotiations between the hijackers, local elders and Puntland officials, a minister said on Friday.

"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," Ali Abdi Aware, state minister of Puntland told Reuters.

The ship was seized on Nov. 25 in the Gulf of Aden. (Editing by Louise Ireland)

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