Strauss-Kahn: Tristane Banon claims investigated

French prosecutors have started a preliminary inquiry into a writer's claim that former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn tried to rape her in 2003. Detectives have been assigned to investigate the complaint lodged by Tristane Banon. She says Mr Strauss-Kahn assaulted her in a Paris flat as she attempted to conduct an interview with him. Separately, he denies charges of sexually assaulting a New York hotel maid on 14 May. Mr Strauss-Kahn was recently freed from house arrest in the US city after the credibility of his accuser's evidence came into question. It was shortly after Mr Strauss-Kahn was arrested in New York that Ms Banon came forward to say that he had tried to assault her eight years ago. He responded by saying he would sue Ms Banon for making false statements. Under French law, the charge of attempted rape carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in jail. However, the prosecutors' inquiry may not lead to formal charges. 'Wrestled'. Ms Banon - the god-daughter of Mr Strauss-Kahn's second wife, Brigitte Guillemette - has claimed that during the interview in 2003, Mr Strauss-Kahn said he would only speak to her if she held his hand.