International Monetary¹ Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn has offered to resign following an alleged² sexual assault of a hotel maid in New York.

国际货币基金组织主席多米尼克·斯特劳斯-卡恩因对纽约一座宾馆清洁工进行性侵犯受到指控而提出辞职。

bail³ at a hearing on Monday" src="http://www.enread.com/upimg/allimg/110519/1_110519052729_1.jpg" width="304" height="171" />
Dominique Strauss-Kahn was denied bail at a hearing on Monday
In a statement, Mr Strauss-Kahn, 62, said he had already informed the executive board of his intention to step down "with immediate⁴ effect".

He again firmly denied the criminal charges against him.

Mr Strauss-Kahn - who is being held in New York's Rikers Island prison - is expected to make a new plea for bail.

In the statement, Mr Strauss-Kahn said: "It is with infinite sadness that I feel compelled（迫使，强迫） today to present to the Executive Board my resignation from my post of Managing Director of the IMF.

"I think at this time first of my wife - whom I love more than anything - of my children, of my family, of my friends. I think also of my colleagues at the Fund; together we have accomplished⁵ such great things over the last three years and more.

"To all, I want to say that I deny with the greatest possible firmness all of the allegations that have been made against me.

"I want to protect this institution which I have served with honour and devotion, and especially - especially - I want to devote all my strength, all my time, and all my energy to proving my innocence⁶."

The IMF said it would inform "in the near future" on the selection process of a new chief.

The organisation's deputy, John Lipsky, has been in interim⁷ control of the IMF since Mr Strauss-Kahn's arrest.