Updated

BLANTYRE, Malawi (AP) — Malawi's president says he won't tolerate foreigners treating Malawians "worse than dogs" in a rare outburst of anger.

Bingu wa Mutharika made the comments Friday as he left for an African summit in Uganda. His statement comes as a white man was arrested after his five dogs seriously wounded an elderly Malawian.

The president described Malawi as "a black country for black people."

The 72-year-old Malawian man was left without a nose, an ear lobe and part of his lower lip following the attack.

The foreign man is being held on accusations of keeping dangerous animals and endangering human life, police said. It was not immediately clear whether he was South African or Zimbabwean.