Sarkozy urged to help shamed ex-IMF chief

French opposition says he should get fair chance to defend himself

PARIS - France's opposition Socialist Party on Thursday urged President Nicolas Sarkozy to pressure US authorities to ensure Dominique Strauss-Kahn is given a fair chance to defend himself on sex assault charges.

Socialist Party spokesman Harlem Desir suggested that Sarkozy should urge New York judges to free the former IMF chief on bail "so that Dominique Strauss-Kahn can organize his defense in a decent fashion".