Canadian Military on 48 hour standby to go to Lebanon

70 Canadian troops have been sent to Cyprus to help evacuate Canadian citizens from Lebanon, as well as two Canadian navy vessels have been put on 48 hour standby to possibly depart for the region. The crew from the HMCS Preserver have been recalled from leave, and HMCS Halifax was ready to sail for a multi national excercise so her crew was already in the vicinity of the ship. French President Jacques Chirac also offered to assist Canada in evacuating our citizens from Lebanon, of which there are up to 50,000.