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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Canada FM quits for security slip | Canada FM quits for security slip |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Canada's foreign minister, Maxime Bernier, has resigned after he admitted leaving classified documents in what he called "a non-secure location". | Canada's foreign minister, Maxime Bernier, has resigned after he admitted leaving classified documents in what he called "a non-secure location". |
| His former girlfriend, Julie Couillard, told Canadian media the papers had been left at her flat in Montreal in April. | His former girlfriend, Julie Couillard, told Canadian media the papers had been left at her flat in Montreal in April. |
| Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said it was a serious security breach. | Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said it was a serious security breach. |
| Mr Bernier had been under pressure to quit after it emerged that Ms Couillard had previous relationships with men connected to organised crime. | Mr Bernier had been under pressure to quit after it emerged that Ms Couillard had previous relationships with men connected to organised crime. |
| "Minister Bernier has learned and informed me that he left classified government documents in a non-secure location," said Mr Harper. | "Minister Bernier has learned and informed me that he left classified government documents in a non-secure location," said Mr Harper. |
| "This is a serious error. (He) has accepted his responsibilities in offering to resign." | "This is a serious error. (He) has accepted his responsibilities in offering to resign." |
| TV disclosures? | TV disclosures? |
| The announcement came hours before an interview with Ms Couillard was shown on Canadian television. | The announcement came hours before an interview with Ms Couillard was shown on Canadian television. |
| It is a very serious mistake regardless of who the minister is, regardless of personal life Prime Minister Stephen Harper | It is a very serious mistake regardless of who the minister is, regardless of personal life Prime Minister Stephen Harper |
| She said that Mr Bernier had come to her flat in April and forgotten a document there. | She said that Mr Bernier had come to her flat in April and forgotten a document there. |
| "He came to my place, then he left, and the document remained with me," she told the French-language TVA network. | "He came to my place, then he left, and the document remained with me," she told the French-language TVA network. |
| It has not been revealed what the document contained, nor whether any other party saw it. | It has not been revealed what the document contained, nor whether any other party saw it. |
| Ms Couillard said she returned it to the government via a lawyer. | Ms Couillard said she returned it to the government via a lawyer. |
| Ms Couillard, 38, who had attended Mr Bernier's 2007 swearing-in as foreign minister, had officially been designated as his "spouse" so she could join him on official trips overseas. | Ms Couillard, 38, who had attended Mr Bernier's 2007 swearing-in as foreign minister, had officially been designated as his "spouse" so she could join him on official trips overseas. |
| It only recently emerged publicly that Ms Couillard had been romantically involved with two men who belonged to biker gangs that were involved in turf wars over drug dealing. | |
| She has at no point been accused of any wrongdoing. | She has at no point been accused of any wrongdoing. |
| Ms Couillard and Mr Bernier broke up earlier this year. | Ms Couillard and Mr Bernier broke up earlier this year. |
| Mr Harper denied the resignation had any connection to the "minister's private life". | Mr Harper denied the resignation had any connection to the "minister's private life". |
| "This is about one thing and that is a failure to uphold expected standards on government documents," he said. | "This is about one thing and that is a failure to uphold expected standards on government documents," he said. |
| "I have no intention to comment on a minister's former girlfriend," he added. | "I have no intention to comment on a minister's former girlfriend," he added. |
| But a member of parliament for the opposition Liberals, Ralph Goodale, said the prime minister had "a lot of explaining to do". | But a member of parliament for the opposition Liberals, Ralph Goodale, said the prime minister had "a lot of explaining to do". |
| Mr Bernier, who was appointed to the role last August, is the first minister to resign from Mr Harper's cabinet under a cloud since the Conservatives came to power in January 2006 elections. | Mr Bernier, who was appointed to the role last August, is the first minister to resign from Mr Harper's cabinet under a cloud since the Conservatives came to power in January 2006 elections. |
| He had earlier courted controversy when he publicly suggested that Afghan President Hamid Karzai replace the governor of Kandahar province, where Canada has 2,500 troops stationed. | He had earlier courted controversy when he publicly suggested that Afghan President Hamid Karzai replace the governor of Kandahar province, where Canada has 2,500 troops stationed. |
| Canada's International Trade Minister, David Emerson, is to serve as interim foreign affairs minister. | Canada's International Trade Minister, David Emerson, is to serve as interim foreign affairs minister. |