Geithner: Embattled Strauss-Kahn ‘not in a position to run’ the IMF

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has suggested that Dominique Strauss-Kahn should step down as head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as he faces accusations of the attempted rape of a hotel maid.

“He is obviously not in a position to run the IMF,” Geithner said in New York on Tuesday evening, according to media reports.

{mosads}Rather, he said, the IMF’s executive board should name an interim director. Geithner also offered praise to acting head John Lipsky.

After New York police officers removed Strauss-Kahn from a plane set to return him to France, the IMF has been thrown into turmoil. Strauss-Kahn, once thought to be a leading presidential challenger to Nicolas Sarkozy, is being held without bail at New York’s Rikers Island.

While Strauss-Kahn technically remains at the top of the IMF as its managing director, Geithner’s comments represented the most direct push from U.S. government officials to have him resign from the position. 

Other nations — including several with emerging economies — are jockeying for position to name one of their own as his successor.

The allegations come as the IMF and other European nations work to orchestrate a bailout of the Greek government.