Australian bush fires: man charged with arson

Australian police have charged a man with "arson causing death" over one of the country's deadly bushfires.

The reports said the man was charged with lighting a fire, which killed at least 21 people, near the town of Churchill in the state of Victoria.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has described Australia's deadliest bushfires as "mass murder".

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

Reports that a suspect had been arrested first appeared in The Age newspaper and were later confirmed to several media by a police spokesperson.

The newspaper said the man is 39 years old and is from Churchill.