Washington - The United States condemned Sudan's expulsion of humanitarian organizations on Friday, warning that the move could imperil millions of people dependent on foreign assistance.

"These organizations provide critical humanitarian assistance to millions of Sudanese, and the forced departure of these organizations immediately and seriously threatens the lives and well-being of displaced populations," State Department acting deputy spokesman Gordon Duguid said.

The Sudanese government announced Thursday that several organizations had been kicked out of the country, only days after a UN court issued an arrest warrant for President Omar al-Bashir on charges of war crimes in the conflict in Darfur.

Sudanese Deputy Justice Minister Abd el-Daim Zomrawi accused the groups of "inciting hatred" and "disseminating lies." Among the 10 were Doctors without Borders, the Norwegian Refugee Council and Britain-based Oxfam, officials confirmed.

"We call on the (Sudanese government) to allow these organizations to continue their operations and provide the necessary humanitarian space for them to do so," Duguid said. (dpa)