Strauss-Kahn denies attempted rape

PARIS, Sept. 29 (UPI) -- Former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn and the woman who says he tried to rape her stuck to their stories Thursday when questioned by police, lawyers said.

The confrontation between Strauss-Kahn and writer Tristain Banon, who claims he tried to rape her in 2003, was part of the police investigation into Banon's accusations conducted before authorities decide whether to press charges, Radio France Internationale reported.

When a New York hotel housekeeper accused Strauss-Kahn of rape earlier this year, he was head of the International Monetary Fund and expected to run as the Socialist candidate for president of France. The charges have been dropped but the scandal continues to dog him.

Strauss-Kahn's lawyer said he continued to deny anything except a verbal advance to Banon, The New York Times reported.

"Mr. Strauss-Kahn repeated that there had been neither aggression nor violence in this case," Frede Beaulieu said. "He didn't apologize and had no reason to do so."

Banon said Strauss-Kahn was lying, her lawyer, David Koubbi, said.

"Ms. Banon continues to tell the truth, and Mr. Strauss-Kahn continues to lie," Koubbi said.

Banon made her allegations public on a television talk show in 2007, but didn't take her complaint to the police until this year after he was arrested in New York.

Strauss-Kahn has filed a lawsuit against alleging slander.