OTTAWA, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said on Monday that Foreign Minister Maxime Bernier has resigned from the cabinet for leaving classified document in an unsecured location.

    Harper made the announcement at a news conference Monday afternoon that he has accepted the resignation of Bernier, who has been under fire recently for his former girl friend's links with an organized crime group.

    "It's only this error. It's a very serious error for any minister," Harper said. "The minister immediately recognized the gravity of that error.

    However, he said Bernier's resignation has nothing to do with his former girlfriend Julie Couillard, who has been linked with Hells Angels members.

    "Let me be clear: this is not to do with the minister's private life," Harper said.

    Trade Minister David Emerson will take over the post on an interim basis.

    Bernier, 45, was elected to the House of Commons in January 2006 to represent the Quebec riding of Beauce and previously served as minister of industry in Harper's cabinet.