EU's Juncker: Talk on Strauss-Kahn's replacement at IMF "indecent"

Luxembourg premier Jean-Claude Juncker, who chairs the Eurogroup panel of eurozone finance ministers, lashed out Monday at Germany and Belgium for discussing the succession of Dominique Strauss-Kahn at the head of the International Monetary Fund.

Strauss-Kahn's position appears in jeopardy after he was arrested Saturday in New York on sexual assault charges. On Monday, he was forced to miss the Eurogroup's discussions in Brussels on bailouts plans for Greece and Portugal.

'As long as Mr Dominique Strauss-Kahn (does) not step down and I am not suggesting that he should do so ... it is undecent that some governments already this morning started that (succession) debate,' Juncker told reporters.

'This is a debate that has no place,' he added.

Belgian and German officials earlier said that if Strauss-Kahn, a Frenchman, were to resign, his post should be taken by another European. Traditionally the IMF is headed by a European, while its sister organization the World Bank is led by an American.

Juncker said he was 'very sad and upset,' as he described Strauss-Kahn as 'a very good friend' and said he 'did not like' pictures showing him handcuffed in the hands of the police.

IMF Head Charged Over Alleged Attempted Rape

Dominique Strauss-Kahn, 62, has been charged with criminal sexual act, attempted rape and unlawful imprisonment, his attorney Benjamin Brafman said
New York Deputy Police Commissioner Paul Browne said detectives formally arrested Strauss-Kahn at 2:15 a.m.

According to Browne, Police pulled Strauss-Kahn off an Air France flight destined for Paris at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Saturday after the alleged incident.
He was taken into custody and brought to a Manhattan police station for questioning, Browne said.

Browne explained the sexual attack took place at the sofitel hotel where  Strauss-Kahn emerged naked when the 32-year-old hotel employee entered his room to clean it around 1 p.m. Saturday.
The housekeeping employee said she didn't think anyone was in the luxury $3,000-a-night suite when she entered