OTTAWA - Up to 200 desperate Canadians finally escaped the violence and chaos in Libya thanks to borrowed rides from the Brits, Spaniards and others Thursday.
But some critics are asking why Canada couldn't get its own citizens out.
Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon told a news conference in Rome that 74 Canadians managed to get to London, 35-40 went to Madrid, and 18 were safe in Malta. Dozens more were about to be evacuated on planes and boats, he said.
"We are co-ordinating with our allies to get Canadian citizens out. We are doing everything possible to ensure that we can get Canadian and chartered aircraft in to make that happen."
The Canadian evacuation effort suffered a setback Thursday when a plane chartered by the government was grounded in Rome because its insurance wouldn't cover a flight into the strife-torn country.
Canada has since chartered a flight out of Jordan that is expected to arrive in Tripoli early Friday. And a hulking Canadian Forces C-17 military transport is to fly into the Libyan capital as soon as landing permission can be arranged.
A government aircraft due to carry Gov.-Gen. David Johnston to a state visit to Kuwait on Friday will be diverted to the evacuation effort if needed, Cannon said.
Foreign Affairs officials are still working on plans to evacuate Canadians from Benghazi in the east of Libya.
About 344 Canadians are registered with the embassy in Tripoli and at least 213 said they wanted out. Cannon is urging all Canadians to leave: "Our goal is to get Canadians out -- safely -- by any means possible."
He said he's also talking with allies about the crisis, including the U.S., Britain, France and Italy.
"The situation in Libya is very quickly changing and continues to become more dangerous," he said. "We continue to call on the Libyan authorities to cease the use of force and the outrageous abuses against civilians."
Cannon warned that the entire region is a potential danger zone and Canadians should register with local embassies.
When asked why Canada wasn't able to evacuate its citizens when other countries had, he replied: "I would say we are on the right track. What we can't do in one way we are able to do in the other way by working with our like-minded partners."
NDP foreign affairs critic Paul Dewar suggested the Harper government botched the evacuation, but Liberal critic Bob Rae was reluctant to criticize.
"I don't think this is a moment for us in opposition to be second guessing what's the best way to do this," Rae said. "In my view, this is a time for all Canadians to say we want to get our fellow citizens out of a dangerous situation."
Still, he said the government has been behind the curve in the unfolding tragedy in North Africa.
Uprisings began in Tunisia and subsequently erupted in Egypt, Libya, Yemen and Bahrain.
Reports from Libya include grisly details of massacres, lynchings and street fighting. It appears at least some army units have abandoned Gadhafi's cause in favour of protesters. Other reports say mercenary groups are supporting the regime.
-- With files from The Associated Press.
