France shocked by Dominique Strauss-Kahn charges

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has announced it has appointed Dominique Strauss-Kahn's deputy to manage the institution after he was charged with an alleged sex attack of a hotel chamber maid in New York.

Mr Strauss-Kahn firmly denies the charges against him.

IMF deputy-chief John Lipsky will become acting managing director in his absence, handling the financial crisis hitting several countries.

Mr Strauss-Kahn had been leading the French opinion polls as the man most likely to become the nation's next president.

The BBC's Gavin Hewitt reports.