Australian arsonist named

A court in Australia has lifted a ban on identifying an arson suspect in the country’s deadly bushfires, despite fears of possible vengeance attacks by angry residents.



Prosecutors said Brendan Sokaluk deliberately set a fire in Churchill, Victoria, in which 11 people died.



The 39 year old was not in court to hear the judge lift the suppression order, which kept his identity a secret.



At least 189 people are now known to have died in the dozens of bushfires that swept Victoria earlier this month.



Firefighters in the south-eastern state are still battling nine blazes.



Police have warned that the death toll could rise further as officers continue to search through the debris of razed houses for victims.



Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has announced that a national day of mourning will be held on Sunday for all victims of the bush fires.