'Putin plot' seen in Strauss-Kahn sex scandal 'conspiracy'

Vladimir Putin's office says the allegations of the former chief of the International Monetary Fund against Russia's Prime Minister are ridiculous. Dominique Strauss-Kahn has reportedly accused Putin of being part of a plot to have him fired from his post. The British 'Daily Mail' newspaper has claimed that before his arrest on sexual abuse charges, Strauss-Kahn voiced concerns that he could fall victim to a conspiracy. In an interview with a French TV channel a colleague of Strauss-Kahn said the ex-IMF chief told him that Russia and France were trying to stop him running for the presidency. It's alleged Strauss-Kahn was worried that if he wasn't allowed a 'clean' exit from the IMF he wouldn't be able to announce his candidacy. Strauss-Kahn is currently in New York, awaiting trial. Vladimir Putin's press attache says that the accusations are entirely baseless.