Strauss-Kahn accuser Banon alleges smear campaign on primetime TV

French novelist and journalist Tristane Banon told television viewers on Thursday evening that she had maintained her allegation of attempted rape when she attended a face-to-face interview with Dominique Strauss-Kahn at a police station that morning, and that Strauss-Kahn's entourage were trying to discredit her.

Eric Feferberg

"There was a rape attempt and I repeated that," Banon said in an interview on the main evening news programme on French channel TF1.

Both parties have given primetime interviews during the police investigation.

"I had in front of me exactly the same Strauss-Kahn that I saw on television, with the same arrogance, the same coldness," said Banon, who lodged a formal complaint against Strauss-Kahn in July.

She brought the charge after Strauss-Kahn was accused of attempting to rape a New York hotel maid, although charges related to that case were dropped after US prosecutors deemed the alleged victim unreliable.

"I thought he'd apologise at least for what he's admitted to. I looked at him constantly, he didn't dare look at me," Banon said, after Strauss-Kahn reportedly admitted he tried to kiss her.

The Socialist politician denies attempted rape, says Banon's allegation is imaginary and is suing her for defamation.

His lawyers issued a statement after Banon's television appearance, calling her a liar.

"Dominique Strauss-Kahn formally denies having attacked Ms Tristane Banon and notes that she's lying about what happened during this morning's confrontation," lawyers Henri Leclerc and Frederique Baulieu stated.

Banon said during her television interview that she did not feel hatred towards Strauss-Kahn, only contempt, and alleged that he was employing people to try to discredit her.

"This group of public relations people is trying to get my ex-boyfriends to say that I'm unbalanced, to show my chaotic childhood, that I'm sleeping with my lawyer." she declared.

Banon also poured scorn on Strauss-Kahn's attempt to have a civil case brought by Diallo in New York dismissed, claiming diplomatic immunity as a former head of the International Monetary Fund.

"That's just like him," she said. "I ask myself why would an innocent man need immunity? If I was wrongly accused of something I wouldn't need diplomatic immunity."

Strauss-Kahn's lawyers said in their statement that their client "only invoked immunity at the end of criminal proceedings and only within the context of the financial proceeding under way in New York."

Banon's complaint is for attempted rape rather than sexual assault or harassment, and if the prosecutor decides to downgrade the charge, Strauss-Kahn would be protected by a statute of limitations on lesser crimes.

Banon first made her allegations public on television in 2007, but only brought them to magistrates after Strauss-Kahn's bail was relaxed in New York in July.

She has said that she will bring a civil suit if there is no criminal prosecution.