Australian arsonist charged

Australian police have charged a man with arson in connection with the deadly fires in the state of Victoria last week.



The 39 year old man was also charged with deliberately lighting a bushfire near Churchill, in the eastern part of the state.



The blaze reportedly killed at least 21 people.



At least 181 people were killed as the fires swept through Victoria in south-east Australia over the weekend.



The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been charged on three counts, arson causing death, a crime which carries a maximum 25 year prison sentence, and of deliberately starting a bushfire.



He also faces unrelated charges of possessing child pornography.