Civil suit against Strauss-Kahn scheduled

NEW YORK, March 28 (UPI) -- Ex-International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn plans to claim in New York he is shielded from a civil suit accusing him of sexual assault.

Strauss-Kahn's lawyers are expected to argue Wednesday in court the suit filed by hotel maid Nafissatou Diallo against him should be dismissed because Strauss-Kahn had diplomatic immunity when he allegedly sexually assaulted her in the hotel room last year, CNN reported.

Criminal charges of rape and other sexual offenses were dismissed when prosecutors said Diallo had credibility issues. Strauss-Kahn has denied he assaulted her, but resigned as the IMF head after he was arrested in May.

Diallo's lawyers have said Strauss-Kahn's immunity is limited and does not extend to sexual assault.

In September, Strauss-Kahn told French television station TF1 what happened in the luxury hotel suite was a "moral weakness" but has denied any violence or aggression.

Until his arrest, Strauss-Kahn was considered a front-runner to challenge incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy for the French presidency next month.

A French court this week charged him with allegedly participating in a prostitution ring in which women at parties he attended were paid for sex, charges Strauss-Kahn has denied.