Greek army chief resigns, cites 'ethics, dignity'

ATHENS - The Associated Press

A Greek flag waves by the statue of the goddess Athina, in Athens, Friday, June 22, 2012. AP Photo

Greece’s army chief of staff has unexpectedly resigned hours before a top government meeting on military policy, citing reasons of "ethics and dignity."
 
An Army statement says Lieutenant General Constantinos Ziazias stepped down at 2 a.m. local time Wednesday. It says his resignation was for "reasons that touch on ethics and dignity, both his own and of the army."
 
The statement did not elaborate, and government officials had no immediate comment. The resignation came just before Wednesday’s planned meeting of Greece’s council on foreign policy and defense, under Prime Minister Antonis Samaras
 
Ziazias was appointed nine months ago, just before the previous Socialist government stepped down. Changes of government in Greece are routinely followed by new top military appointments. The current conservative-led coalition took over last month.