MONROVIA, Liberia (AP) — Liberia's government says it is investigating a charity founded by a young American woman after allegations that a local staffer raped several girls in its care.

The More Than Me organization says in a statement that founder Katie Meyler has taken a leave of absence until a separate, independent audit requested by the charity is complete. Meyler's work had been praised by Oprah Winfrey and others.

Liberians have expressed outrage after a report last week described the alleged sexual assaults at a branch of the charity in the capital, Monrovia.

A three-member committee of the charity's board of directors says that "we fell short, and we are determined to learn all that we can from this painful chapter." The board's chairman has resigned.

The charity's operations in Liberia continue.