Lover Reproached IMF`s Strauss-Kahn -French Media

The IMF board later cleared Strauss-Kahn of harassment, abuse of power and favoritism over his extra-marital affair with an IMF employee.

The former lover of International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn has accused him of abusing his position and being unfit to manage women, according to a letter published on Thursday in the French media.

The IMF said the letter had been taken into account last year by an independent inquiry. The IMF board later cleared Strauss-Kahn of harassment, abuse of power and favoritism over his extra-marital affair with an IMF employee.

L'Express magazine said former IMF economist Piroska Nagy wrote to the independent investigator last October.

The magazine quoted her as saying: "Mr Strauss-Kahn abused his position to enter into a relationship with me ... I was not prepared for the advances of the director general ... I had the feeling I was a loser if I accepted and a loser if I refused."

L'Express said her letter continued: "I fear that this man has a problem that perhaps makes him little suited to running an organisation where women work."

The IMF-sponsored inquiry concluded that Strauss-Kahn conducted a brief, consensual affair with Nagy and the IMF board stopped short of disciplining its leader.

Asked about the letter on Thursday, the IMF's chief of media relations William Murray, based in Washington, said the letter had been taken into consideration.

"The external counsel retained to look into this matter has been aware of this letter for some time, and well before he reached his factual findings," Murray said in an email.

"It is our understanding that the letter was factored into his investigation and final report and that the questions raised by this recent article were, in fact, considered by that independent fact-finder.

"We will have no further comment on this matter - a matter which was fully addressed nearly four months ago by the IMF Executive Board."

The IMF board sought to deal with the issue quickly last year so as not to distract the IMF from its role in dealing with the global financial crisis.

Several emerging market economies were seeking IMF advice and financing at the time to help them through the crisis.

Strauss-Kahn apologised to the board over the affair, categorising his actions as a serious error of judgment.