NEW DELHI, Aug 2: Talks to free three Indian citizens kidnapped in Iraq were at a delicate stage and releasing details of negotiations could jeopardize the situation, the Indian government said on Monday.

"We are at sensitive and delicate stage of the evolution of the crisis. Narrating details of the nature of our efforts in public can jeopardise the very results we have to achieve," Junior Foreign Minister Edappakath Ahamed said.

Earlier, Mr Ahamed said New Delhi was optimistic about the early release of the hostages, among seven people kidnapped 12 days ago by militants, as negotiations resumed to free them.

But later in the day, Mr Ahamed urged caution. "The very nature of this crisis demands careful circumspection on our part collectively ... and we must treat changing developments with caution and calm."

Mr Ahamed denied reports that talks between the Kuwaiti transport firm that had hired the drivers and Sheik Hisham al Dulaymi, the main mediator, had broken off. An aide to Dulaymi had said negotiations had not resumed with the seven hostages' Kuwaiti employer.

The aide said the kidnappers had accused the Kuwaiti firm of not responding positively enough to their demands. He added that Sheikh Dulaymi would still mediate the talks to save the seven men even though the kidnappers had asked him to withdraw. -Reuters