Papers reveal Strauss-Kahn complaining during arrest

The former IMF chief, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, declared he had diplomatic immunity and complained that his handcuffs were too tight after he was taken into custody on allegations he tried to rape a hotel maid, recently-released court documents show.

Mr Strauss-Kahn also asked if he needed an attorney and responded to questions about whether he was hungry, at one point saying he would "like some eggs", the papers show.

Documents filed Thursday by prosecutors provide a chronology of statements at the time of the arrest of the former French finance minister, who was taken into custody at John F Kennedy International Airport on 14 May as he tried to leave on a Paris-bound flight. The court documents describe Mr Strauss-Kahn as confused as he was taken into custody. "What is this about?" he asked detectives.

"Manhattan detectives need to speak with you about an incident in a hotel room," a detective responds.

"Then I need to make a call and let them know I won't be at my meeting tomorrow," Mr Strauss-Kahn said before adding: "These handcuffs are tight."

At about 9pm that evening, after previously declaring he had diplomatic immunity, Mr Strauss-Kahn told a detective he would like to call his lawyer. "It is your right to have one in this country if you want. I don't know if you have some kind of diplomatic status," the detective replied

"No, no, no, I'm not trying to use that. I just want to know if I need a lawyer," Mr Strauss-Kahn said.

Mr Strauss-Kahn, who is on $1m bail under house arrest at a luxury townhouse, maintains he did not attack the maid at Sofitel hotel.