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Ex-Romania president makes statements about protest deaths

BUCHAREST, Romania – Former Romanian President Ion Iliescu, who faces charges of crimes against humanity, has made statements to prosecutors about the deaths of demonstrators in violent anti-government protests.

Ramona Buclu, a spokeswoman for the prosecutors’ office, confirmed Friday that Iliescu, 86, made statements several days ago, but did not provide further details.

In October, Iliescu was charged in connection with the deaths four people, the shooting of three others and depriving 1,000 people of their freedom. He denies wrongdoing.

Club-wielding coal miners and police broke up a weeks-long pro-democracy protest in Bucharest in 1990, arresting and beating thousands of people. Iliescu later thanked the miners, drawing criticism at home and abroad.

The then-head of the Romanian Intelligence Service, Virgil Magureanu, a close Iliescu ally, gave statements to prosecutors on Thursday.

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