The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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The speaker of Liberia’s House of Representatives has denied involvement in a massive fire that broke out in the West African nation’s parliament.
Speaker Jonathan Fonati Koffa was among those questioned by police after the Parliament building was gutted in a fire.
No one was in the building when the fire broke out, but the government has launched an investigation and offered a reward of US$5,000 for anyone with information about the perpetrators.
Koffa told the BBC he spent a total of nine hours at the police station for questioning, but insists he went there voluntarily and was not summoned.
The fire broke out on Wednesday morning – a day after plans to remove Koffa from his position, a plan that sparked widespread protests.
Several protesters, including an aide to former President George Weah, were arrested during the demonstration.
Koffa has called for an independent international investigation into the fire.
The Liberian House of Representatives is embroiled in a power struggle, with a group of lawmakers seeking to remove Koffa as speaker and replace him.
Another group has opposed the move, saying it is unconstitutional. The Supreme Court’s decision has failed to resolve the dispute.
