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THE former world finance chief accused of rape believed he was the target of a plot organised by Russian PM Vladimir Putin, it was claimed yesterday. A colleague said Dominique Strauss-Kahn told him the Russians wanted him fired as boss of the International Monetary Fund. And the 62-year-old Frenchman, facing charges of trying to rape a hotel maid in New York, accused France and Russia of hatching the scheme to stop him running for the French presidency. French politician Claude Bartolone said Strauss-Kahn made the claim to him last month. Mr Bartolone said: "He said the Russians, notably Putin, allied themselves with France to try to have him fired from the IMF, to stop him running for president."He said by not leaving the IMF 'cleanly' he would not be able to announce his candidacy."