Ceausescu's fate is warning for Saddam, says Bush

George W Bush says the courage of Romanians who toppled Nicolae Ceausescu should inspire others to tackle aggressive dictators such as Saddam Hussein.

Mr Bush was speaking to tens of thousands of rain-soaked Romanians in Bucharest's Revolution Square at the end of his five-day visit to Europe.

He said that the world had seen enough of "fanatics who impose their will through fear".

He stated: "An aggressive dictator now rules in Iraq... The dictator of Iraq threatens the security of every free nation, including the free nations of Europe."

Romania's experience of the violence of Ceausescu's rule had shown it "the face of evil", he said, adding: "The people of Romania understand that aggressive dictators cannot be appeased or ignored, they must always be opposed."

The Romanian dictator was summarily executed when he was caught trying to flee the country in 1989.