LA PAZ, Bolivia —  A political activist and television host was arrested for allegedly inciting riots against President Evo Morales, Bolivian police said.

Local opposition party leader Jorge Melgar was accused of heading a mob that sacked government offices and seized a small airport in the Amazonian town of Riberalta last month.

Assistant Police Secretary Ruben Gamarra also accuses Melgar of inciting a crowd that threw rocks at a Venezuelan airplane last year.

Melgar said Tuesday he had been covering the riots as a journalist and did not incite violence.

Bolivian media have played excerpts of Melgar's television show in which he refers to Morales' supporters as "[expletive] Indians." Morales is Bolivia's first indigenous president.