IMF chief vows to fight sex assault charges

US: IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn vowed Sunday to fight charges of assaulting a hotel chambermaid, amid an explosive sex scandal likely to bury his dreams of becoming the next French president.

The veteran French politician, ignominiously led away from a New York police station in handcuffs, will defend himself against allegations of sexually assaulting the maid in a luxury hotel, lawyer Benjamin Brafman told reporters. “He intends to vigorously defend these charges and denies any wrongdoing,” Brafman said outside the courthouse where the IMF chief face charges.

The bombshell news of the arrest of one of the world’s most powerful men has left the International Monetary Fund reeling, ahead of critical talks on the fallout of the debt crisis sweeping the euro zone.

New York, Monday, AFP