BBC News
watch One-Minute World News
Last Updated: Friday, 4 January 2008, 18:25 GMT
Romanian church collaborator dies
The head of Romania's Baptist Church has died, a week after his past as a collaborator with the feared secret police was exposed.

A newspaper reported that Petru Dugulescu had been an informer for the Securitate during the early 1980s.

He went on to play a key role in the anti-communist uprising in December 1989, protesting against the forced deportation of a Hungarian priest.

Aged 62, he suffered a heart attack in the western city of Timisoara.

Mr Dugulescu had admitted to being an informer for 18 months, explaining that he was recruited when he applied for a passport.

He reported to the communist regime on foreigners and church colleagues.

As well as being head of the small Baptist church in Romania, he also served as an MP during the 1990s.

Romanian justice minister quits
10 Dec 07 |  Europe
Secret police row grips Romania
17 Aug 06 |  Europe
Country profile: Romania
04 Dec 07 |  Country profiles
Timeline: Romania
04 Dec 07 |  Country profiles

Has China's housing bubble burst?
How the world's oldest clove tree defied an empire
Why Royal Ballet principal Sergei Polunin quit


Americas Africa Europe Middle East South Asia Asia Pacific