ews spread quickly and the reports of deaths were exaggerated, as in Timisoara (Behr, 1991, pp. 3-5).
During the night, much of the army sided with the demonstrators, although most were not aware of this since the Securitate forces were wearing army uniforms (Behr, 1991, p. 5). The defense minister was found dead the next morning; official accounts say he committed suicide, others claim that he was executed after the Securitate informed Ceausescu that he was no longer loyal (Economist, 1990, January 6, p. 44). Gathering in front of the Central Committee building that morning, crowds began to break inside the building by noon and the decision was made to evacuate the Ceausescus by helicopter from the roof. Official reports are vague as to what happened during the helicopter trip; an interview with the pilot indicates that the military refused to aid the escape and left the helicopter crew to its own devices. The Ceausescus finally ended up at a militia building near the town of Tirgoviste, hoping for protection by the Securitate and the nomin
...