Canada's foreign minister resigns over security breach

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said that Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier has resigned for leaving classified documents in a nonsecure location.

Harper on Monday said he accepted the resignation of Bernier, who has come under fire in recent weeks after it was
reported that his ex-girlfriend had previous relationships with men who had ties to organised crime.

"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 a woman previously linked to the Hells Angels motorcycle
gang was not a factor in the decision.

But the resignation came as Bernier's former girlfriend, Julie Couillard, was about to appear on a French-language
television station to say that her former lover was careless with classified documents.

The prime minister said Bernier failed to uphold his promise to protect Cabinet confidences.

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