Images of Dominique Strauss-Kahn handcuffed with his ashen-faced appearance in a New York courtroom caused an uproar in France. The head of his Socialist party slamming them as "unbearable and degrading', a view shared by many ordinary French people.

Haggard,unshaven and visibly tired after spending 40 hours in Police custody,the images of Dominique Strauss-Kahn were splashed across his hometown's newspapers.

It's illegal to broadcast images of suspects in handcuffs in France out of respect for the principle of the presumption of innocence until proven otherwise.

French Socialist Party Leader Martine Aubry said, "I would like this young woman to be respected, and I would like the presumption of innocence to be respected. I was very shocked by these images. Luckily, we're in a country in France where one cannot show someone in handcuffs. One cannot humiliate them, degrade someone who is not yet convicted."

The view was largely shared by many French people.

French Civil Servant Sylvie Vallon El Kadri said, "The images of Strauss-Kahn in court were difficult to bear.I think it was very humiliating for him whatever the results of the investigation are. Whether he is guilty or not, his image is certainly tarnished. His political career has just stopped abruptly."

Strauss-Kahn was arrested in New York on Saturday for allegedly attempting to rape a maid in a Manhattan hotel.

His arrest rocked the financial world and caused upheaval in French presidential politics.

As a member of France's Socialist party, Strauss-Kahn was widely considered the strongest potential challenger next year to President Nicolas Sarkozy.