Strauss-Kahn claims immunity in US civil case

Former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn has sought dismissal of a US civil case, claiming immunity from prosecution and saying the hotel maid's "false" sexual assault claims had hampered his efforts to right the global economy.

Criminal charges were dropped in August when prosecutors lost faith in the credibility of maid Nafissatou Diallo, but she is pursuing her civil case for undisclosed monetary damages from the French one-time presidential hopeful.

Strauss-Kahn did not claim immunity in the criminal case as the alleged assault happened while he was staying in New York in a personal capacity, but his lawyers appeared to think this was not a factor in the civil courts.

"As managing director, which is the chief executive position at the IMF, Mr Strauss-Kahn enjoyed absolute immunity from civil suit," said a motion filed by his lawyers at a court in the Bronx in New York.

The motion said it made no difference Strauss-Kahn was no longer head of the IMF when Diallo filed her civil case August 8, saying: "Mr. Strauss-Kahn's absolute immunity persisted until he was able to leave the United States."

Strauss-Kahn went on the attack in the filing, accusing Diallo of imperiling his efforts, at the helm of the International Monetary Fund, to rescue the world economy at a crucial time after the financial crisis.