Jimmy Carter falls ill, cuts short Guyana visit

John Bacon | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Former President Carter cuts trip short due to illness Former President Jimmy Carter cut short a trip to Guyana because he "was not feeling well," according to a statement from the Carter Center. The 90-year-old was in the country to observe their upcoming elections.

Former President Jimmy Carter cut short a trip to Guyana and was returning to Atlanta after falling ill, the Carter Center said Sunday.

Carter, 90, was in Guyana as an observer for Monday's elections.

"President Carter was not feeling well and has departed Guyana to return to Atlanta today," the statement said. "The Carter Center election observation mission in Guyana is continuing its work and will keep him informed of developments."

Carter canceled an elections press conference that had been set for Sunday. No details on his illness were released.

The elections in the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, a South American nation of less than 80,000 people, were called by President Donald Ramotar. He has faced stiff criticism from the opposition-controlled assembly, which he suspended to avoid a no-confidence vote.

"President Carter is hopeful about Guyana's election and expressed his commitment and that of The Carter Center to supporting Guyana in the days ahead, stressing the need for a peaceful process before, during, and after the election," the center's statement said.

Carter and his center have been involved in observation of about 100 elections around the world.

"When democracy backslides or formal diplomacy fails, the Center offers conflict resolution expertise and has furthered avenues for peace in Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia," the center says on its website.