French writer Tristane Banon will bring legal action against Dominique Strauss-Kahn for attempted rape, her lawyer said yesterday.

"My client Tristane Banon will file a complaint [Tuesday] against Dominique Strauss-Kahn for attempted rape," David Koubbi told L'Express.

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The incident was alleged to have taken place in Paris in 2003, when Banon worked as a journalist, Koubbi said. Under French law, there is a 10-year window to file a rape complaint, he said.

She was persuaded against filing a complaint at the time by her mother, but spoke about the alleged incident shortly after the former International Monetary Fund chief was arrested on rape charges in New York in May.

Banon alleged that Strauss-Kahn invited her to an apartment promising to give her an interview, and instead pounced on her like "a rutting chimpanzee."

Koubbi said the timing of her complaint had nothing to do with events in New York.

"If the [New York] prosecutor's case against Strauss-Kahn is empty, ours is not. It is extremely solid and well-supported," he said.

Strauss-Kahn was released on his own recognisance last Friday amid doubts over the credibility of his New York accuser, and the case is reported to be on the verge of collapse.

Banon first revealed the alleged rape when she was a guest on a TV talk show in 2007.