Carter defends book as 'accurate and needed'

Former President Jimmy Carter said Saturday that the storm of criticism he has faced for his recent book has not weakened his resolve for fair treatment of Israelis and Palestinians.

''I have been called a liar,'' Carter said at the University of Georgia, saying he has been called an anti-Semite, a bigot and a plagiarist. "Those kind of accusations, he said, "they concern me, but they don't detract from the fact the book is accurate and is needed.'' Following the publication of the book 14 members of an advisory board to his Carter Center resigned in protest. Those former board members and other critics contend the book is unfairly critical of Israel. (AP)