Radu Timofte, ex- Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI) chief during 2001-2006, died on Monday morning, aged 60, Romanian TV station Antena 3 announces. The information was confirmed for HotNews.ro by SRI. Radu Timofte was suffering of leukaemia.

"Mr. Timofte died, a decent, pertinent and common sensed person", Ion Iliescu, ex-Romanian president stated. Timofte belonged to the same party as Iliescu - PSD. Iliescu was still President when Timofte was named chief of the intelligence service.

Radu Timofte was born in April 7, 1949, in Neamt county (North-East Romania). He graduated the High Military Studies Academy in Bucharest, the College of Order and Major State. He was an active officer in the National Defence Ministry until 1988, when he became a reserve due to his sister’s illegal stay out of Romania.

Radu Timofte was part of the FSN (the Front of National Salvation) committee leadership in Roman (Neamt county) after the 1989 Revolution. He was a senator during 1990 - 2001 on behalf of FSN, which later became FDSN and PDSR. He quit from the Parliament in February 2001 and was named chief of the Romanian Intelligence Service, a role that he kept until 2006. He then resigned following the scandal around Omar Hayssam's liberation, Hayssam fleeing Romania.

Source: Wikipedia