Crowds of angry hotel workers jeer arrival of Dominique Strauss-Kahn at court

During a brief hearing at a packed Manhattan court yesterday, Strauss-Kahn denied attempting to rape the 32-year-old woman inside his suite at New York's upmarket Sofitel Hotel on 14 May.

Speaking outside the Supreme Court building, the French politician's lawyer, Ben Brafman, claimed there was no "forcible compulsion".

Strauss-Kahn, 62, was greeted at the court in lower Manhattan by the world's media and dozens of protesting hotel workers.

"Shame on you" they chanted as the former managing director of the IMF arrived, accompanied by his wife, Anne Sinclair.

They later jeered him as he left in a black SUV. On neither occasion did Strauss-Kahn acknowledge their shouts.

Meanwhile, during a five-minute appearance before judge Michael Obus, Strauss-Kahn entered a plea of not guilty to counts of attempted rape, forcible touching, committing a criminal sexual act and unlawful imprisonment.

Strauss-Kahn was granted release from prison two weeks ago after being bailed on a $6 million (3.7 million) cash and insurance bond surety.

But he has been placed under house arrest and has to wear a 24-hour electronic monitoring tag and be accompanied by an armed guard at all times.

It is alleged that the French politician chased the maid down the corridor of his hotel suite before attempting to pull down her undergarments and forcing her to perform oral sex on him.

Following the claims, Strauss-Kahn resigned from the IMF, vowing to clear his name.

Prosecutors have said the alleged victim has provided a "compelling and unwavering" account of the attack.

Furthermore, it is believed that Strauss-Kahn's DNA matches that of a material found on the maid's uniform.

But the former IMF boss's lawyers appear to be preparing a legal argument around the premise that the encounter was consensual.

Outside the Supreme Court on Monday, Mr Brafman told reporters: "It will be clear that there was no element of forcible compulsion in this case whatsoever. Any suggestion to the contrary is simply not credible."

Strauss-Kahn's lawyers have previously implied that they have information that would be "gravely" damaging to the credibility of the alleged victim as a witness.

Yesterday, the maid's lawyer, Kenneth Thompson, said of his client: "She is devastated, she's suffering, she's traumatised."

Strauss-Kahn is expected to return to court for a pre-trial hearing on 18 July.