French opposition says he should get fair chance to defend himself

PARIS - France's opposition Socialist Party on Thursday urged President Nicolas Sarkozy to pressure US authorities to ensure Dominique Strauss-Kahn is given a fair chance to defend himself on sex assault charges.

Socialist Party spokesman Harlem Desir suggested that Sarkozy should urge New York judges to free the former IMF chief on bail "so that Dominique Strauss-Kahn can organize his defense in a decent fashion".

Desir noted that Sarkozy had previously intervened in the case of "other French people caught up in judicial matters abroad ... We do it when it concerns one of our compatriots in Mexico or in other countries".

This appeared to be a reference to Florence Cassez, a Frenchwoman arrested in Mexico in 2005 along with her boyfriend, an alleged gangleader, and jailed for 60 years for kidnapping, organized crime and weapons possession.

French officials believe there were shortcomings in her trial and Sarkozy has urged his Mexican counterpart Felipe Calderon to allow her to come home, without success, provoking a diplomatic row.

Strauss-Kahn, a leading Socialist and former finance minister who was expected to run against Sarkozy in next year's presidential election, was arrested in New York on Saturday as he prepared to fly to Paris.

Desir said Sarkozy's intervention should show "respect for the judicial institutions of the United States" but complained: "I really can't understand why it was felt absolutely necessary he remain in detention."

German Chancellor Angela Merkel called on emerging powers on Thursday to accept a European as the next head of the IMF, citing the lender's role in the euro zone debt crisis and Strauss-Kahn's early resignation.

Speaking at a news conference, Merkel stressed that in general emerging countries had a right to the top job in the IMF or World Bank.

"But I believe that in the current situation, given that we have considerable problems with the euro and that the IMF is very strongly involved here, much can be said for the possibility of installing a European candidate."

"I am of the opinion that we should propose a European candidate."

"We must also account for the fact that Mr Strauss-Kahn's time in office was not completed," Merkel added. "That means that the change is taking place within this period of office, and I believe that could be an argument perhaps for the emerging countries to consider."

She said a successor would have to be found quickly.

"Of course currently there are talks about this, I will not name any names but we will discuss this within the European Union. It is of course of great importance that we find a quick solution."

AFP-Reuters