Former U.S. President Carter falls, requires stitches

[October 07, 2019]    (Reuters) - Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, 95, fell at his home in Plains, Georgia, but "feels fine" and will attend a Habitat for Humanity event in Nashville, Tennessee, on Sunday night, his staff said.

 Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter waves as he departs the Capitol after attending the presidential inauguration of Donald Trump in Washington, U.S., January 20, 2017. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo

Carter's fall on Sunday required stitches above his brow, said spokeswoman Deanna Congileo in a statement emailed to reporters.

"He said he feels fine and wanted everyone to know that he and Mrs. Carter are eager to be at a Habitat for Humanity's Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project in Nashville, Tennessee," Congileo said.

Carter, a Democrat who was governor of Georgia from 1971 to 1975, was elected president in 1976 and served one term in the White House. He was defeated for re-election in 1980 by Republican Ronald Reagan.

Since leaving the presidency, Carter has drawn international praise for his humanitarian work. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.

He is the longest-living U.S. president, celebrating his 95th birthday on Tuesday.

(Reporting by Sharon Bernstein in Sacramento, California; Editing by Peter Cooney)

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