Police interrogated Liberia’s speaker in connection with the Parliament fire.

The embattled speaker of the House of Representatives of Liberia has been questioned by police after a massive fire broke out in the legislature of the West African country.

Residents of the capital Monrovia woke up on Wednesday morning to see thick black smoke and flames rising from the Capitol building.

The flames destroyed the entire joint chamber of the legislature, but no one was in the building at the time.

Liberian police chief Gregory Coleman said four men, including Speaker Jonathan Fonati Kofa and Representative Frank Sah Foko, have been brought in for questioning.

The fire came a day after plans to remove Kofa from the speaker’s role sparked tense protests.

Several protesters, including an aide of former President George Weah, were arrested during Tuesday’s protests.

Representative Foko, a prominent figure in the House of Representatives, reportedly uploaded a video to Facebook in which he said: “If they want us to burn the chamber, we will burn it.”

Police Chief Coleman said: “Representative Foco threatened that he would burn down the United Chambers and then just a day later, it burned down. So he needs to clarify his statement.”

Coleman said CoffA should also account for Facebook posts made during the protests.

Neither FoCo or CoffA have responded publicly to Coleman’s comments.

The government has offered a $5,000 (£3,900) reward for more information about the fire.

President Joseph Boakai has expressed disappointment over the incident and has ordered security agencies to investigate.

Liberia’s House of Representatives has been embroiled in a power struggle, with a faction of lawmakers calling for the removal of Speaker Koffa and his replacement.

Another group opposed the action, calling it unconstitutional.

A Supreme Court decision has failed to resolve the internal dispute.