The Speaker of the House of Representatives in Liberia has denied involvement in the massive fire that broke out in the West African Legislature.
Speaker Jonathan Fonati Koffa was one of those questioned by the police after the Capitol building was set on fire.
No one was in the building at the time of the fire but authorities have launched an investigation and offered a $5,000 (£3,900) reward for anyone with more information.
Koffa told the BBC that he spent a total of 9 hours at the police station, but insists that he was only there to accompany his colleague, representative Frank Saah Foko.
The fire happened on Wednesday morning – a day after plans to remove Koffa from his position as Speaker sparked violent protests.
Many protesters, including former President George Weah’s aide, were arrested during the protest.
After the fire, which was seen billowing black smoke above the capital, Monrovia, police said they brought in Koffa, Foko and two others for questioning.
Police Chief Gregory Coleman spoke about a post on Facebook that Koffa made during the protests, and said the Speaker must explain it.
Koffa said he would write a statement about the position, but he had not yet been asked.
He told the BBC that the fire could have started for any number of reasons.
“If it was arson, that would be a very bad thing,” he said, adding that “he has never, and will never, be associated with that kind of violence”.
He said that part of the destroyed building was old and that the contractor had warned the officials that they were “sitting on a time bomb”.
Koffa also called for an “impartial”, international investigation into the fire.
The House of Representatives of Liberia is engulfed in a power struggle, where a group of members of Parliament say they removed Koffa from the position of Speaker.
Another group opposes this action and says it is against the constitution.
The Supreme Court decision failed to resolve the internal dispute.
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