Prime Minister Stephen Harper is heading to France for an emergency summit on the crisis in Libya, as Canadian fighter jets take off to join a multinational force imposing a no-fly order over the North African nation.
Harper will join the leaders of France, Britain, the Arab League and the United Nations for talks in Paris Saturday on the international intervention in Libya.
Canada has committed six CF-18 fighter-bombers to help enforce the no-fly zone, authorized by a UN Security Council resolution late Thursday night.
Six CF-18 fighter-bombers will leave CFB Bagotville, Que., on Friday afternoon for the 14-hour flight to the Mediterranean.
They will join the Canadian warship HMCS Charlottetown, already on standby off the coast of Libya, and a growing international force in the region to keep pressure on Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi.
The Canadian jets will fly out of bases in Italy to enforce the no-fly zone and Harper sent them even after Gadhafi's surprise declaration of a ceasefire Friday.
At a news conference Friday, Harper said he was "encouraged" that the Libyan regime declared a ceasefire in its weeks long battle with pro-democracy rebels.
But he insisted that move came as a result of the "threat of military action" and suggested he didn't have much faith in Gadhafi.
"For that threat to remain credible, adequate military forces must be in place. Our deployment therefore will proceed," Harper said.
The Prime Minister said Canada must have the courage of its convictions and stand up for what it believes in.
"One either believes in freedom or one just says one believes in freedom," Harper said.
"The Libyan people have shown through their sacrifice that they believe in it. Assisting them is a moral obligation upon those of us who profess this great ideal."
Harper said the action was necessary to prevent "further massacres."
Britain and France have also signalled they will send jets to the region.
Harper said he had advised Canada's opposition leaders of the decision and promised to seek Parliament's formal approval of the mission if it lasts more than three months.
Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff said his party supports the decision to send planes, but not ground troops in the event military action escalates.
"The prime minister has assured me that this does not involve ground combat operations," Ignatieff said. "If combat operations are ongoing it will require formal parliamentary approval and I made that point clear to the prime minister."
