加拿大外交部长辞职

TORONTO -- Canada's embattled foreign minister resigned for leaving classified documents in a nonsecure location, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced Monday, calling the breach "a serious error."

     Harper said that he accepted the resignation of Maxime Bernier, who came under fire in recent weeks amid reports that a former girlfriend had previous relationships with Hells Angels motorcycle gang members.

     "Mr. Bernier has learned and informed me that he left classified documents in a nonsecure location. This is a serious error," Harper said.

     Harper said that Bernier's controversial relationship with the woman was not a factor in the resignation.

     But it was announced as Bernier's former girlfriend, Julie Couillard, was preparing to go on a French-language television station to say that Bernier had been careless with classified documents.

     "It's only this error. It's a very serious mistake for any minister. We must always accept responsibilities for the documents that are classified. The minister has immediately acknowledged the gravity of this mistake," Harper said.

     The documents were left at a private residence earlier this spring, Harper said in a statement. He did not say what the documents were or if they were shared with others.

     Bernier wrote in a letter of resignation that he asked the Foreign Affairs Department to conduct a thorough review of the situation.

     "Prime Minister, the security breach that occurred was my fault and my fault alone and I take full responsibility for my actions," Bernier wrote.

     Harper said David Emerson, the international trade minister, will take over as interim foreign minister.

     Just hours before Bernier quit, Harper had dismissed the whole affair.

     "I have no intention to comment on a minister's former girlfriend," Harper said earlier in the day. "I don't take this subject seriously."