Dominique Strauss-Kahn and New York maid reach secret settlement

The former International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn and the New York maid who accused him of attempting to rape her in his hotel room have agreed to a settlement in her civil lawsuit.

ITV News Washington Correspondent Robert Moore reports.

The settlement at the Supreme Court of the State of New York between the former top world banker and Nafissitao Diallo will remain confidential.

A settlement has also been reached between the New York Post and Ms Diallo.

Strauss-Khan was campaigning to become the next President of France, this was undone by chambermaid Ms Diallo's claims.

Speaking on the court steps Ms Diallo expressed her relief at the outcome;

I just want to say I thank you everyone who supported me, all over the world, I thank everybody. I thank God and God bless you all.

Ms Diallo's lawyer Kenneth Thompson went on to praise his client;

Ms Diallo is a strong and courageous woman who never lost faith in our system of justice. With this resolution she can now move on with her life.

On the other side of the Atlantic today Dominique Strauss-Kahn was filmed walking through Paris.

He made no comment on the case or the settlement, but asked reporters how long they would film him:

The incident in the hotel room in May 2011 lead to the dramatic implosion of his political career after being arrested by New York Police he resigned as head of the IMF.

He was charged with sexual assault and briefly held in one of New York's most notorious prisons.

Strauss-Khan's personal life was also in turmoil, this summer he split from his wife Anne Sinclair a respected journalist who had remained by his side throughout last year.

The deal now brings to an end the legal proceedings in the United States but the former head of the IMF's ordeal may not be over.

Judges in France will now decide whether to 'throw out' charges linking him to a major prostitution-ring.