An American flag is seen in front of the building where Dominique Strauss-Kahn is currently staying on house arrest in New York City May 21, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

NEW YORK – Former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn remained under house arrest and armed guard on Saturday in an apartment in New York's financial district that has become a tourist attraction.

Strauss-Kahn, who was released from jail on Friday, was expected to stay in the apartment in Manhattan for a few days until permanent housing could be found, as he defends himself against charges of raping a maid in a New York hotel.

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A trial may be six months or more away.

The temporary housing was arranged by a private security company that is guarding Strauss-Kahn at an estimated cost of $200,000 a month, which he is responsible for paying.

Satellite trucks lined the block outside the apartment, and scores of reporters and photographers waited for a glimpse of the man who until a week ago was one of the most powerful financial figures in the world.

Once a strong contender to be the next president of France, Strauss-Kahn resigned as head of the International Monetary Fund on Wednesday. French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde was seen as the leading contender to succeed him.

Strauss-Kahn was detained by police in New York a week ago, just hours after the alleged attack at the Sofitel hotel in Manhattan. He is due to reappear in court on June 6, when he will formally answer the charges.

He denies the sexual assault accusations made by the maid, a 32-year-old widow from Guinea. If convicted, he could face 25 years in prison.

Word of the new tenant at 71 Broadway quickly spread. Curious pedestrians questioned police officers stationed at the entrance and took pictures of the media.

A guide on a tour bus heading down the street could be heard on a microphone pointing out the building as the one where Strauss-Kahn was staying.

Some neighbors seemed less than thrilled, complaining about the added security and throngs of media.

"I don't like all of this," said Ian Horowitz, 29, a resident who works in finance. "I don't like all the attention and all the people outside."

A deal to have Strauss-Kahn stay in an apartment on the city's Upper East Side fell through after the media besieged the building.