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IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn quits over sex charge | IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn quits over sex charge |
(40 minutes later) | |
International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn has resigned following allegations he sexually assaulted a hotel maid in New York. | International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn has resigned following allegations he sexually assaulted a hotel maid in New York. |
In a statement, Mr Strauss-Kahn - who is being held in Rikers Island prison - said he wanted to "devote all my strength... to proving my innocence." | |
Mr Strauss-Kahn will make a fresh application for bail later on Thursday. | |
Whether his successor comes from the developed or developing world will be a topic of hot debate, analysts say. | |
In the statement, Mr Strauss-Kahn said it was with "infinite sadness" that he tendered his resignation. | |
"I think at this time first of my wife - whom I love more than anything - of my children, of my family, of my friends. I think also of my colleagues at the Fund." | |
He said he denied "with the greatest possible firmness" all of the allegations against him, but said he wanted to protect the IMF. | |
The IMF said it would release information "in the near future" about appointing a successor. | |
The organisation's deputy, John Lipsky, has been in interim control of the IMF since Mr Strauss-Kahn's arrest on Saturday. | The organisation's deputy, John Lipsky, has been in interim control of the IMF since Mr Strauss-Kahn's arrest on Saturday. |
Dominique Moisi, a special adviser at the French Institute for International Relations, said it was sad that "a brilliant career" had ended in "such an indignant way". | Dominique Moisi, a special adviser at the French Institute for International Relations, said it was sad that "a brilliant career" had ended in "such an indignant way". |
But he added that some in France were coming to believe that "there is maybe a Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde in the personality of Mr Strauss-Kahn". | But he added that some in France were coming to believe that "there is maybe a Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde in the personality of Mr Strauss-Kahn". |
The pressure had been growing on Mr Strauss-Kahn both at home and abroad, says the BBC's Christian Fraser in Paris. | The pressure had been growing on Mr Strauss-Kahn both at home and abroad, says the BBC's Christian Fraser in Paris. |
US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner had led calls for him to stand down, followed by the head of the governing right-wing UMP party in France, Jean-Francois Cope, who said he couldn't see how Mr Strauss-Kahn could carry on. | US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner had led calls for him to stand down, followed by the head of the governing right-wing UMP party in France, Jean-Francois Cope, who said he couldn't see how Mr Strauss-Kahn could carry on. |
Analysts say Mr Strauss-Kahn's resignation heralds a battle between established and emerging economies over who will get the top job. | Analysts say Mr Strauss-Kahn's resignation heralds a battle between established and emerging economies over who will get the top job. |
Traditionally, the US names the head of the World Bank, while the top job at the IMF goes to a European. | |
A Chinese government spokeswoman said the selection process should be based on "merit, transparency and fairness" - adding "we believe that emerging and developing countries should have representation at senior levels", Reuters reported. | A Chinese government spokeswoman said the selection process should be based on "merit, transparency and fairness" - adding "we believe that emerging and developing countries should have representation at senior levels", Reuters reported. |
However, Germany has said it wants the next head of the IMF to come from Europe. | However, Germany has said it wants the next head of the IMF to come from Europe. |
Bail hearing | Bail hearing |
Mr Strauss-Kahn faces a number of charges in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a 32-year-old maid in New York's Sofitel hotel on 14 May. | Mr Strauss-Kahn faces a number of charges in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a 32-year-old maid in New York's Sofitel hotel on 14 May. |
They are: committing a criminal sexual act, attempted rape, sexual abuse, unlawful imprisonment and forcible touching. | They are: committing a criminal sexual act, attempted rape, sexual abuse, unlawful imprisonment and forcible touching. |
Police have removed a piece of carpet from the Sofitel hotel, in search of evidence to support the maid's allegation she was forced into an act of oral sex. | Police have removed a piece of carpet from the Sofitel hotel, in search of evidence to support the maid's allegation she was forced into an act of oral sex. |
Mr Strauss-Kahn's lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, said on Monday that the defence believes the forensic evidence "will not be consistent with a forcible encounter". | Mr Strauss-Kahn's lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, said on Monday that the defence believes the forensic evidence "will not be consistent with a forcible encounter". |
On Monday a judge in New York denied Mr Strauss-Kahn bail - despite the offer of a $1m (£618,000) guarantee - saying there was a risk the IMF chief would flee the country. | On Monday a judge in New York denied Mr Strauss-Kahn bail - despite the offer of a $1m (£618,000) guarantee - saying there was a risk the IMF chief would flee the country. |
However, he will make a new plea for bail at a court hearing on Thursday morning, Mr Brafman says. | However, he will make a new plea for bail at a court hearing on Thursday morning, Mr Brafman says. |
A copy of his bail application, published on the website of the New York Times, shows Mr Strauss-Kahn's lawyers are offering new conditions for bail in an effort to convince the judge that he will not try to flee while he prepares his defence. | A copy of his bail application, published on the website of the New York Times, shows Mr Strauss-Kahn's lawyers are offering new conditions for bail in an effort to convince the judge that he will not try to flee while he prepares his defence. |
They include Mr Strauss-Kahn being confined 24 hours a day to a Manhattan address, subject to electronic surveillance. | They include Mr Strauss-Kahn being confined 24 hours a day to a Manhattan address, subject to electronic surveillance. |
The application also highlights Mr Strauss-Kahn's wife's ties to the US in an attempt to counter suggestions he could be a flight risk, saying she was partly schooled there and is currently working on a book about American political life, and pointing out the pair own a $4m home in Washington DC. | |
Since being remanded in custody, Mr Strauss-Kahn been placed on suicide watch at Rikers Island, a notorious prison. | Since being remanded in custody, Mr Strauss-Kahn been placed on suicide watch at Rikers Island, a notorious prison. |
Jeffrey Shapiro, lawyer for Mr Strauss-Kahn's accuser, says his client feared for herself and her daughter when she discovered Mr Strauss-Kahn's identity after the incident. | Jeffrey Shapiro, lawyer for Mr Strauss-Kahn's accuser, says his client feared for herself and her daughter when she discovered Mr Strauss-Kahn's identity after the incident. |
He said she had only become aware of Mr Strauss-Kahn's identity "a day later when a friend called her to tell her, 'do you have any idea who this man is who did this to you?'". | He said she had only become aware of Mr Strauss-Kahn's identity "a day later when a friend called her to tell her, 'do you have any idea who this man is who did this to you?'". |
Mr Shapiro said his client was "scared and incredulous". | Mr Shapiro said his client was "scared and incredulous". |
"When she found out this encounter was with a man of great power and wealth she feared not only for herself but more importantly for her daughter." | "When she found out this encounter was with a man of great power and wealth she feared not only for herself but more importantly for her daughter." |
The woman, from the West African nation of Guinea, had now been reunited with her 15-year-old daughter in a "safe place", he added. | The woman, from the West African nation of Guinea, had now been reunited with her 15-year-old daughter in a "safe place", he added. |