Strauss-Kahn protest at university

Students have protested as a French politician accused of sexually assaulting a maid addressed one of the UK's most famous university debating societies.

Demonstrators gathered as Dominique Strauss-Kahn - former head of the International Monetary Fund - spoke at Cambridge University.

Mr Strauss-Kahn gave a private speech about global economics to hundreds of student members of the Cambridge Union Society.

His appearance was greeted with anger by members of the university's student union Women's Campaign, who staged a demonstration outside the union building.

Mr Strauss-Kahn was rushed into a side entrance of the building by security guards, who scuffled with photographers and a demonstrator.

He said nothing to waiting journalists and would not answer questions.

Security staff guarded entrances to the building and approaches were fenced off. Journalists were not allowed into the building.

Protesters asked whether society officials saw allegations of sexual assault as "titillation".

But society leaders defended their decision to invite Mr Strauss-Kahn - and to ban journalists from the talk. President Katie Lam, 20, who is studying classics, said the union was not deliberately courting controversy.

Mr Strauss-Kahn was accused of sexually assaulting a maid in New York last year. Charges against him were dropped.