Former IMF head irked by 'tight handcuffs'

FORMER IMF head Dominique Strauss-Kahn declared he had diplomatic immunity and complained that his handcuffs were too tight after he was taken into custody on allegations he tried to rape a New York hotel maid, US court documents show.

Strauss-Kahn, who is free on $1 million bail under house arrest at a luxury townhouse, maintains he did not attack the maid at the Sofitel hotel.

The new court documents describe Strauss-Kahn as seemingly confused as he was taken into custody on 14 May.

"I have diplomatic immunity," Strauss-Kahn told police officers, according to the documents. "…Can I speak with someone from the French consulate? What is this about?"

He asked detectives whether he needed an attorney, responded to questions about whether he was hungry and complained about his handcuffs, the documents said.

"Manhattan detectives need to speak with you about an incident in a hotel room," responded one detective as they travelled from JFK airport to the Manhattan special victims squad.

"Then I need to let them know I won't be at my meeting tomorrow," Strauss-Kahn told the detective. Then he added: "These handcuffs are tight."

French politicians were upset about images of a handcuffed Strauss-Kahn, as police walked him in front of a crowd of cameras on 15 May as he was taken to court to face charges of attempted rape and sexual abuse. Such images are illegal in France.