Executions Romania

Dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife, Elena, went to their deaths by firing squad defiantly spurning the right of their military accusers to judge them. "I will be judged only by the people," Ceausescu repeatedly told the military prosecutor in a videotaped Romanian television broadcast late Tuesday. The television did not show the couple's faces when their death sentence was pronounced, but Ceausescu was heard clearly to say: "It doesn't matter. It has no importance."

Crunching over a snowy path to the grave of former dictator Nicolae Ceausescu, children, former friends and retirees said Saturday that it was wrong to kill the late ruler on Christmas Day 10 years ago. At first light, 43-year-old Dinel Staicu arrived at the Ghencea military cemetery in southwest Bucharest and placed a "Communist Almanac" on what is thought to be Ceausescu's grave. "He died a great hero," said Staicu, from the southern city of Craiova.

Elena Ceausescu, the textile worker who rose to virtual second in command of Romania, was praised by her husband's Communist regime as "the best mother of Romania," but insiders say she derided her people as "worms." During the years of Nicolae Ceausescu's repressive rule, she also developed a taste for furs and jewelry, and she was honored for scientific expertise that she did not possess. She also had electronic "bugs" planted to spy on her children.

Only five volunteers were asked to execute deposed dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife last month, but 80 insisted on shooting, a Romanian government official said. In an interview published Monday in the newspaper Le Figaro, Silviu Brucan, a member of the 11-member executive council of the National Salvation Front, said the firing squad's enthusiasm reflected popular support for the Dec. 25 execution. "The officer in command asked for five soldiers to step forward and prepare to fire.

Former Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife, Elena, were executed Monday after a secret trial, state television announced, as the capital that Ceausescu long had terrorized settled into an uneasy calm. Throughout the day, Romanian television and radio broadcasts reported that Ceausescu was being held in an undisclosed location. His whereabouts had been the subject of rumor and speculation since Friday, when he fled the capital in the face of mass demonstrations. Shortly before 9 p.m.

Crunching over a snowy path to the grave of former dictator Nicolae Ceausescu, children, former friends and retirees said Saturday that it was wrong to kill the late ruler on Christmas Day 10 years ago. At first light, 43-year-old Dinel Staicu arrived at the Ghencea military cemetery in southwest Bucharest and placed a "Communist Almanac" on what is thought to be Ceausescu's grave. "He died a great hero," said Staicu, from the southern city of Craiova.

The White House on Monday announced the establishment of diplomatic relations with the new government of Romania, but it criticized the government's execution of ousted dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife, Elena, after a quick trial. "The U.S.

In a shift from 20 years of political detachment from the Soviet Union, a longtime ally of Soviet President Mikhail S. Gorbachev was named Tuesday as provisional president of Romania. Romanian national television reported that Ion Iliescu, 59, a veteran Communist Party official considered by many to be "Gorbachev's man in Romania," will serve as "provisional president of the Provisional Council" of the country.

Strong and mixed emotions dominated a small demonstration by Romanian expatriates at Los Angeles City Hall on Monday night. Joy that Nicolae Ceausescu had been deposed as dictator of their homeland combined with sorrow that apparently tens of thousands have died in the process. Hope for a new democratic government was diluted by outrage at the rumored presence of Libyan and Syrian mercenaries fighting on the side of Ceausescu's police.

The National Salvation Front, which declared itself Romania's new leadership after the collapse of Nicolae Ceausescu's regime, is believed to have about 40 members. They include a number of politicians and dissident artists and intellectuals. It is not clear who is the top leader. Following are profiles of some prominent members: Corneliu Manescu, 73, originally announced as leader of the front, is a former foreign minister and former president of the U.N. General Assembly.

A panic-stricken Elena Ceausescu turned to her ousted dictator husband as they were put before a firing squad and said: "Nicolae, they are going to shoot us," and then tried to break loose, according to an army captain who saw the execution. The officer, identified only as Gheorghe, said Ceausescu's wife struggled to get free when she realized she was about to die. She and her husband were put against a wall and shot.

In a shift from 20 years of political detachment from the Soviet Union, a longtime ally of Soviet President Mikhail S. Gorbachev was named Tuesday as provisional president of Romania. Romanian national television reported that Ion Iliescu, 59, a veteran Communist Party official considered by many to be "Gorbachev's man in Romania," will serve as "provisional president of the Provisional Council" of the country.

Dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife, Elena, went to their deaths by firing squad defiantly spurning the right of their military accusers to judge them. "I will be judged only by the people," Ceausescu repeatedly told the military prosecutor in a videotaped Romanian television broadcast late Tuesday. The television did not show the couple's faces when their death sentence was pronounced, but Ceausescu was heard clearly to say: "It doesn't matter. It has no importance."

The White House on Monday announced the establishment of diplomatic relations with the new government of Romania, but it criticized the government's execution of ousted dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife, Elena, after a quick trial. "The U.S.

Strong and mixed emotions dominated a small demonstration by Romanian expatriates at Los Angeles City Hall on Monday night. Joy that Nicolae Ceausescu had been deposed as dictator of their homeland combined with sorrow that apparently tens of thousands have died in the process. Hope for a new democratic government was diluted by outrage at the rumored presence of Libyan and Syrian mercenaries fighting on the side of Ceausescu's police.

The Executions Deposed dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife, Elena, have been executed after a secret trial in which they were convicted of "grave crimes," including genocide, state television reported. The Fighting The army announced plans for a "final offensive" against pro-Ceausescu security forces who have conducted guerrilla warfare since the dictator was ousted. There was relatively little shooting in the capital, Bucharest.

Only five volunteers were asked to execute deposed dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife last month, but 80 insisted on shooting, a Romanian government official said. In an interview published Monday in the newspaper Le Figaro, Silviu Brucan, a member of the 11-member executive council of the National Salvation Front, said the firing squad's enthusiasm reflected popular support for the Dec. 25 execution. "The officer in command asked for five soldiers to step forward and prepare to fire.

The National Salvation Front, which declared itself Romania's new leadership after the collapse of Nicolae Ceausescu's regime, is believed to have about 40 members. They include a number of politicians and dissident artists and intellectuals. It is not clear who is the top leader. Following are profiles of some prominent members: Corneliu Manescu, 73, originally announced as leader of the front, is a former foreign minister and former president of the U.N. General Assembly.

He basked as sycophants proclaimed him the "Genius of the Carpathians," but Nicolae Ceausescu will be remembered instead as the doddering tyrant whose incomprehensible belief that he could stay the same while all around him changed finally cost him his life. Even as he carefully crafted an image of independence from his neighbors in what used to be called the Soviet Bloc, the longtime Romanian leader built a family dynasty and ruthlessly insisted on unquestioning obedience from his own subjects.