French police Monday began investigating an alleged rape attempt in 2003 involving former International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Khan and a journalist.

Police officials spoke with Strauss-Khan Monday about the sexual assault case.

The French journalist says Strauss-Khan tried to rape her in an empty Paris apartment in 2003 when she went to interview him.

Strauss-Khan returned to his home country of France earlier this month after rape charges in New York were dropped. Strauss-Khan has denied the charges against him in both cases.