"Like the Americans and others, Canada has decided today to suspend its diplomatic presence in Libya," spokesman Dimitri Soudas said in a Twitter message.
A military C-17 aircraft left Tripoli bound for Malta on Saturday carrying six consular officials, 18 other Canadians, and some British and Australian citizens, Soudas said.
Harper said Friday that his government has helped evacuate approximately 200 Canadians on various flights and vessels, but officials said up to 200 were still trying to leave Libya amid Moamer Kadhafi`s deadly crackdown on anti-regime protesters.
At least 500 Canadians are believed to have been in Libya before the unrest began earlier this month.
Canada`s embassy in Tripoli opened in 2004.
The United States on Friday suspended its diplomatic mission in Libya, closing its embassy but keeping diplomatic relations open, while Britain also suspended operations at its embassy after all staff were evacuated on a government-charted flight.
Soudas said Harper spoke by telephone to his French counterpart Francois Fillon, but didn`t specify the content of their discussion.
On Friday, Harper urged the UN Security Council to refer "atrocities" committed by Kadhafi`s regime to the International Criminal Court. (*)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
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