German army chief quits over raid

General Wolfgang Schneiderhan, Germany's highest-ranking officer, has resigned after accusations that the army withheld information about an air raid in Afghanistan in which several civilians died. Speaking in parliament on Thursday, Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, Germany's defence minister, said Schneiderhan had submitted his resignation. As inspector general, Schneiderhan holds the top military post in the German armed forces. Peter Wichert, a senior defence ministry official, also resigned over the incident. Schneiderhan "released himself from his duties at his own request," zu Guttenberg told parliament. "State secretary Wichert is also taking responsibility."