Strauss-Kahn tried to claim diplomatic immunity

NEW YORK: Former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn initially tried to claim diplomatic immunity when he was arrested over the attempted rape of a hotel maid, official police transcripts revealed Thursday.

The transcripts, released by the prosecution, showed that when Strauss-Kahn was being led by police from his first class seat on an Air France flight on May 14, some of his first words were: "I have diplomatic immunity."

Later when taken downtown, Strauss-Kahn relented when asked if he had some kind of diplomatic status, saying: "No, no, no. I am not trying to use that, I just want to know if I need a lawyer."

The International Monetary Fund, from which Strauss-Kahn later resigned as managing director, said days after his arrest that immunity did not apply in the case because he had been on private business during his stay in New York. (AFP)