IMF Chief to Force Maid to Perform Oral Sex

The spokesman added that Strauss-Kahn has been charged with attempted rape, carrying out a criminal sex act and unlawful imprisonment. John Sheehan, a spokesman for the hotel, said its staff were cooperating with the authorities in the investigation.

Strauss-Kahn, who is married to a leading French television news reporter, Anne Sinclair, had been considered a leading contender to run on the socialist party’s ticket against President Nicolas Sarkozy in next year’s French elections.

Yesterday far right presidential contender Marine Le Pen said his bid for the top job was now 'doomed'. A French government spokesman said today it was important to remain cautious and reserve judegment over the arrest of Strauss-Kahn.

'We have to be extremely prudent in analysis, comments and consequences,' he told France 2 television. The spokesman added that the government's position was to respect the presumption of innocence.

Strauss-Kahn has been dogged by scandal. In 2008 he was embroiled in controversy over accusations that he had had a sexual relationship with one of his subordinates, Piroska Nagy, senior official in the IMF’s Africa Department.

The IMF hired a law firm to launch an investigation. Ms Nagy left the fund and joined the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

He was cleared of harassment, favouritism and abuse of power following an inquiry - and kept his job, though he later apologised for an ‘error of judgement’.

Strauss-Kahn, who was rejected by the French Socialists as their presidential candidate in 2006, gained international recognition as France’s finance minister from 1997-99.

He is credited with preparing France for the adoption of the euro by reducing its deficit and persuading then-Prime Minister Lionel Jospin to sign up to an EU pact of fiscal prudence.

A former economics professor, Strauss-Kahn joined the Socialist party in 1976 and was elected to parliament in 1986 from the Val-d’Oise district, north of Paris.