The embattled speaker of Liberia’s House of Representatives has been questioned by police after a massive fire at the West African country’s legislature.
Residents of the capital Monrovia woke up Wednesday morning to see thick black smoke and flames rising from the Capitol building.
The flames destroyed the entire joint chambers of the legislature, but no one was in the building at the time.
Four people, including Speaker Jonathan Fonati Koffa and Rep. Frank Saah Foko, have been brought in for questioning, Liberia’s police chief Gregory Colman said.
The fire occurred a day after plans to remove Koffa from his role as speaker sparked tense protests.
Several protesters, including an aide to former President George Weah, were arrested during Tuesday’s protest.
Rep. Foko, a prominent figure in the House of Representatives, reportedly uploaded a video on Facebook saying, “If they want us to burn the rooms, we will burn them.”
Police Chief Coleman said: “Representative Foko threatened that he would set the communal chambers on fire and just a day later it was burned. So he needs to clarify his statement.”
Coleman said Koffa should also clarify a Facebook post he made during the protests.
Neither Foko nor Koffa have publicly responded to Coleman’s comments.
The government has offered a $5,000 (£3,900) reward for information about the fire.
President Joseph Boakai has expressed his disappointment over the incident and ordered security forces to investigate.
Liberia’s House of Representatives has been roiled by a power struggle, with a faction of lawmakers claiming to have ousted and replaced Speaker Koffa.
Another group has opposed the move, calling it unconstitutional.
A Supreme Court ruling failed to resolve the internal dispute.
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