* First plane due to arrive in Tripoli on Feb 24
* Cannon denounces abuses of power by Libyan forces
OTTAWA, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Canada intends to evacuate its citizens from Libya due to worsening unrest in the North African country, Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon said on Tuesday.
Ottawa, which earlier in the day said it had no such plans, announced the evacuation after Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi vowed to crush a growing revolt.
Cannon told reporters the first Canadian flight would arrive in Tripoli on Thursday. Of the 321 Canadians registered with the embassy, 91 have so far expressed a wish to leave.
Cannon denounced what he described as the outrageous abuse of power by Libyan security forces, who witnesses say have fired on protesters. (Reporting by David Ljunggren; editing by Peter Galloway)
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