New Delhi: Expectations of an early release of three Indians held hostage in Iraq rose today (Aug 28, 2004) with the captives' Kuwaiti employer company KGL (Kuwait and Gulf Link) saying negotiations were in a "wrapping up" stage and Indian Government noting "there is some hope" of the crisis to end soon.

"We are in the wrapping up stage. We expect the hostages to be released soon," KGL spokesperson Rana Abu-Zaineh told over phone from Kuwait, a day after the company announced end of its operations in Iraq in response to the sole demand of the abductors.

She refused to reveal details of the negotiations, saying these were being conducted "secretly", but emphasised that the efforts were moving in a "positive direction".

External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh said in Bangalore "there is some hope" of early release of the hostages.

"We are in touch, our embassy (in Kuwait) is in touch with all involved in the exercise (of trying to secure the release of hostages)," he told reporters without elaborating.

"...this is a very sensitive and delicate issue and we have reached a stage where the less I say the better it is," Singh said.