Prime Minister Stephen Harper arrived in Cyprus Wednesday on a government plane he diverted to help remove Canadians fleeing the fighting in Lebanon.

Harper said he will try to bring back as many as 120 Canadians using the Canadian Forces plane that took him to Europe last week.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper: 'It's more than a symbolic trip. There is a need for air support in Cyprus.'
Prime Minister Stephen Harper: 'It's more than a symbolic trip. There is a need for air support in Cyprus.'
(CBC)
About 250 Canadians are expected to arrive in Cyprus from Lebanon early Thursday on the first of seven chartered ships. Ottawa has chartered a second plane to take home the people who don't fit on Harper's plane.

Harper didn't leave the plane and appeared to be preparing to spend the night on the Airbus.

There are an estimated 50,000 Canadian citizens among the foreigners in Lebanon, many desperate to escape the Israeli military strikes that began after Hezbollah militants crossed the border into Israel on July 12 and attacked an army outpost.

A Canadian citizen waits at the port in Beirut for a vessel to ship her out. Some of the estimated 50,000 Canadians in Lebanon have complained that Ottawa's evacuation efforts have been too slow and chaotic.
A Canadian citizen waits at the port in Beirut for a vessel to ship her out. Some of the estimated 50,000 Canadians in Lebanon have complained that Ottawa's evacuation efforts have been too slow and chaotic.
(Mahmoud Tawil/Associated Press)
"Because of the seriousness of the situation and our relative proximity to Cyprus, we have decided to take the Canadian Forces aircraft we have been travelling on to help airlift evacuees back home," Harper told reporters.

"It's more than a symbolic trip," Harper said. "There is a need for air support in Cyprus. We believe this is the right thing to do and that's why we are going to do it."

Surprise announcement

Canada has chartered seven ships to carry some of its citizens in Lebanon to Cyprus and Turkey, where they will be shipped out on flights home.
Canada has chartered seven ships to carry some of its citizens in Lebanon to Cyprus and Turkey, where they will be shipped out on flights home.
(CBC)
Harper made the surprise announcement after meeting with French President Jacques Chirac in Paris on Wednesday afternoon. Harper was on a week-long trip, visiting Europe and attending a meeting of leaders from the Group of Eight richest industrialized nations in Russia on the weekend.

The plane was "stripped down" with as few crew members on board as possible to allow for more room for the stranded Canadians, the prime minister said. The rest of the Canadian delegation and reporters who have been travelling with the prime minister were told that they couldn't stay on the plane for the same reason.

Officials said only Harper's wife, Laureen, and a couple of his communications staff and his official photographer, were to fly to Cyprus with him.

The prime minister said he was supposed to return to Canada on Wednesday night but decided to go to Cyprus instead because he believes more action is needed.

Lebanon's only international airport, in Beirut, has been unusable since Israeli planes bombed runways shortly after the fighting began.

Israel pledges safe passage for Canadians

As many as 300 people — including eight Canadians — have died in Lebanon after Israel responded to the cross-border raid by sending in planes, troops and tanks. Hezbollah has fired more than 700 rockets into Israel, killing dozens and injuring many others.

Harper said he received a call from Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert expressing his condolences for the loss of eight Canadians who were killed in a recent Israeli air strike in southern Lebanon.

Olmert gave assurances to Harper that Israeli officials will ensure the safe passage of Canadians out of Lebanon.

Harper said he also received a call from Australian Prime Minister John Howard, who is reportedly seeking help in his country's efforts to get its citizens out of Lebanon.

Critics have attacked Harper's government over its response to the crisis, with opposition politicians and ordinary citizens saying Ottawa took too long to establish an evacuation plan.

On Wednesday, hundreds of Canadians waited for hours to receive word from Canadian Embassy officials on when they would be able to board ships in Beirut. Many complained about the wait in the heat, saying the situation at the port has been chaotic.

A few Canadians said on Tuesday and Wednesday they would not wait for official intervention and planned to make their own ways home. Some Canadians boarded ships arranged by other countries and have already arrived back in Canada.