Dan Iosif; figure in Romania revolt

BUCHAREST - Dan Iosif, one of the key figures in the 1989 Romanian revolution against dictator Nicolae Ceausescu, died Wednesday. He was 57.

Mr. Iosif died of lung cancer in a clinic in Novosibirsk, Russia, where he had been undergoing treatment for the past month, said Sorin Oprescu, a colleague from the Social Democracy Party.

Mr. Iosif was a lawmaker for the party.

An electronics technician, Mr. Iosif led street protests in Bucharest in the final days of Ceausescu's 25-year rule.

The dictator fled the city in a helicopter amid the protests; he and his wife were caught and executed after a summary trial.

Mr. Iosif was one of the first people to take over the Communist Party headquarters while forces loyal to Ceausescu were still at large.

He became close to Romania's leaders after the revolution, particularly President Ion Iliescu, to whom he remained loyal until his death.

Iliescu awarded Mr. Iosif with one of Romania's most prestigious awards, the Order of Faithful Service.