Top Canadian soldier resigns

OTTAWA, April 15 (UPI) -- The chief of Canada's military defense staff, Gen. Rick Hillier, announced his resignation in Ottawa Tuesday after three years in the post.

In an interview with the Canwest News Service, Hillier said his outspokenness hadn't led to the government asking for him to step down.

"If anything, the pressure was the other way to keep me around," he said.

As a fierce supporter of the NATO mission in Afghanistan, Hillier made headlines when he referred to the Taliban as "detestable murderers and scumbags," the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported.

His letter of resignation to Prime Minister Stephen Harper indicated he'll step down July 1, the CBC said.

Asked by Canwest what his retirement plans were, Hillier lived up to his outspoken reputation.

"I have no idea what I'll do, but I'm sure I'll work for another 10-15 years," Hillier said. "I don't want to sit on the couch scratching my belly in my underwear watching the soaps."