This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp31dw4q253o
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Liberian speaker denies links to parliament fire | Liberian speaker denies links to parliament fire |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Authorities have offered a cash reward for more information about the fire | Authorities have offered a cash reward for more information about the fire |
| The speaker of Liberia's House of Representatives has denied being involved in a huge fire at the West African nation's legislature. | The speaker of Liberia's House of Representatives has denied being involved in a huge fire at the West African nation's legislature. |
| Speaker Jonathan Fonati Koffa was among those questioned by the police after the Capitol building was set alight. | Speaker Jonathan Fonati Koffa was among those questioned by the police after the Capitol building was set alight. |
| No-one was in the building at the time of the fire but the authorities have launched an investigation and offered a $5,000 (£3,900) reward for anyone with more information. | No-one was in the building at the time of the fire but the authorities have launched an investigation and offered a $5,000 (£3,900) reward for anyone with more information. |
| Koffa told the BBC he had spent a total of nine hours at the police station, but insists he was just there to accompany a colleague, Representative Frank Saah Foko. | |
| Thick smoke as huge fire breaks out at Liberia's Capitol building | Thick smoke as huge fire breaks out at Liberia's Capitol building |
| The fire occurred on Wednesday morning - a day after plans to remove Koffa from his speaker role sparked a tense protest. | The fire occurred on Wednesday morning - a day after plans to remove Koffa from his speaker role sparked a tense protest. |
| Several demonstrators, including an aide to former President George Weah, were arrested during the protest. | Several demonstrators, including an aide to former President George Weah, were arrested during the protest. |
| Following the fire, which saw thick black smoke rising above the capital, Monrovia, police said they had brought Koffa, Foko and two others in for questioning. | |
| Police chief Gregory Coleman referred to a Facebook post Koffa made during the protests, saying that the speaker must explain it. | Police chief Gregory Coleman referred to a Facebook post Koffa made during the protests, saying that the speaker must explain it. |
| Koffa said he would give a written statement about the post but that he had not actually been questioned. | |
| He told the BBC the fire could have broken out for any number of reasons. | |
| "If it was arson, that would have been a horrible thing," he said, adding that he had "never been, and would never be, associated with that kind of violence". | "If it was arson, that would have been a horrible thing," he said, adding that he had "never been, and would never be, associated with that kind of violence". |
| He said that the part of the building damaged by the fire was old and that a contractor had previously warned officials they were "sitting on a time-bomb". | He said that the part of the building damaged by the fire was old and that a contractor had previously warned officials they were "sitting on a time-bomb". |
| Koffa also called for a "neutral", international investigation into the fire. | Koffa also called for a "neutral", international investigation into the fire. |
| Liberia's House of Representatives has been beset by a power struggle, in which a faction of lawmakers claims to have removed and replaced Koffa as speaker. | Liberia's House of Representatives has been beset by a power struggle, in which a faction of lawmakers claims to have removed and replaced Koffa as speaker. |
| Another group has resisted the action, calling it unconstitutional. | Another group has resisted the action, calling it unconstitutional. |
| A Supreme Court ruling has failed to solve the internal dispute. | A Supreme Court ruling has failed to solve the internal dispute. |
| More Liberia stories from the BBC: | More Liberia stories from the BBC: |
| Liberia's war and peace: Lessons from 30 years' reporting | Liberia's war and peace: Lessons from 30 years' reporting |
| Thousands dead in civil war but no prosecutions - why Liberia has not acted | Thousands dead in civil war but no prosecutions - why Liberia has not acted |
| Liberian president Joseph Boakai takes on tough challenge | Liberian president Joseph Boakai takes on tough challenge |
| Go to BBCAfrica.com, external for more news from the African continent. | Go to BBCAfrica.com, external for more news from the African continent. |
| Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, external, on Facebook at BBC Africa, external or on Instagram at bbcafrica, external | Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, external, on Facebook at BBC Africa, external or on Instagram at bbcafrica, external |