New York  - Sudan on Tuesday agreed to let the joint United Nations-African Union peacekeeping force in Darfur take over the assets of 13 expelled international relief groups.

The decision was reached between the UN, the Sudanese government and AU representatives in El Fasher, Darfur, where the peacekeeping force is headquartered.

The three sides met to review progress in the deployment of the UN-AU force in Darfur, which is currently at 67 per cent of the authorized ceiling of 30,000 military and civilian personnel.

They signed an agreement giving custody of the NGOs' assets to the UN-AU mission in Darfur (UNAMID), until a final solution can be reached between the Sudanese government and the organizations.

Khartoum expelled 13 relief groups after the International Criminal Court at The Hague issued a warrant to arrest Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who was accused of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in the ethnic conflict in Darfur.

The expelled groups included Action Against Hunger, France; Save the Children, Britain and the United States; Doctors Without Borders, the Netherlands; Care International, International Rescue Committee and the Norwegian Refugee Council.

The aid organizations had complained that their equipment, vehicles and computers were confiscated by local authorities when they were kicked out of Sudan.

The UN said the 13 groups were responsible for providing humanitarian assistance to half of those in need in Darfur. Khartoum has refused to rescind the expulsion order despite repeated demands by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Western governments.

According to the UN, more than 300,000 people have died and at least 2 million have become refugees since 2003. (dpa)