A defiant Sudan ordered the expulsion of a string of foreign aid agencies on Wednesday after the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for the arrest of President Omar al-Beshir. Security was beefed up around foreign embassies in the capital Khartoum amid fears of reprisals as thousands of Beshir supporters took to the streets in protest at the court's decision.
Diplomats urged expatriates to avoid public places and stock up on essential supplies as Sudanese media promised further protests in support of the president, who stands accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the six-year-old conflict in the western region of Darfur.
"Ten NGOs will be expelled," the head of an aid group working in Darfur told AFP. "They told us to leave the country within 24 hours," he added. "Up to 10 NGO's will be expelled," a UN source told AFP. Another aid worker said the Sudanese government had revoked the groups' licences to work in the country.