With "Socialist Republic of Romania" once emblazoned on its side, a Rombac plane, part of ex-dictator Nicolae Ceausescu's fleet, went under the hammer on Thursday and was finally sold for 120,000 euros (146,000 dollars).

Some 150 collectors and aviation enthusiasts were expected to compete -- online and by phone -- for what auction house Artmark called the sale's "gem", which carried a starting price of 25,000 euros ($30,500), spokeswoman Alina Panico told AFP.

At the same auction, a luxury car model Paykan Hillman Hunter given to Ceausescu by the Shah of Iran in 1974 was sold for 95,000 euros (115,000 dollars) to a Romanian collector.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/albert-einsteins-letter-with-famous-emc2-equation-sold-for-13-million-386673">Albert Einstein's letter with famous E=mc2 equation sold for $1.3 million</a>

The medium-haul Rombac Super One-Eleven was made in Bucharest under licence from the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC), making the country the first in eastern Europe to produce air planes.&nbsp;

Rolled out in 1986, it was part of Ceausescu's fleet until December 1989, when he was overthrown and, together with his wife Elena, executed.

'Crowning achievement'

Seen by Ceausescu "as a crowning achievement of Romanian industry", according to Artmark, it was the fifth of nine built under a 300-million-pound contract.

"We were proud of this type of aircraft, which at the time included cutting-edge solutions," said Gheorghe Marica, a retired military pilot who has flown the plane.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brazils-jaime-lerner-urban-transport-pioneer-dies-at-83-387988" hreflang="en">Brazil's Jaime Lerner, urban transport pioneer, dies at 83</a>

Ceausescu had demanded that his planes include a bedroom and an office, where he and his wife could play their favourite game backgammon, according to a former Boeing pilot of the couple, who requested anonymity.

This Boeing pilot and several others told AFP that Ceausescu didn't travel in the Rombac itself, as Artmark has said, but instead preferred a Boeing 707.

After Ceausescu's fall, the aircraft was included in state aviation company Romavia's fleet. It was lent to Pakistan's Aero Asia for some time before being left in a hangar.

Romavia went bankrupt in 2014, and its assets were put up for sale.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brazils-jaime-lerner-urban-transport-pioneer-dies-at-83-387988">Brazil's Jaime Lerner, urban transport pioneer, dies at 83</a>

To prevent it from being sold for scrap, a handful of enthusiasts secured the Rombac's "national heritage" status from the current government in March.

"The device cannot be dismembered or modified, and above all cannot leave Romanian territory," Adrian Ciutan, the former Rombac technician behind the campaign, told AFP.

But it could be exhibited or -- with a significant investment -- be revived.

"It's hard to revive it. It should be re-motorised as its current motors are not authorised because of the noise they make. Also, its parts have expired," Marica said.

Royal welcome

The plane's history dates back to Ceausescu's state visit to the UK in 1978, the first of its kind for a communist leader.

Seen at the time as a dissident within the Soviet bloc, the dictator -- who ruled Romania from 1965 -- was feted with a ride in a gilded carriage to Buckingham Palace alongside Queen Elizabeth II and a state banquet held in his honour.

The British wanted to "break the ice with the communist countries and had chosen to do so through someone who had distanced himself from Moscow," Marica told AFP.

BAC also welcomed the project as it was finding it increasingly difficult to sell its planes, which were deemed too noisy, according to the Boeing pilot.

Although Romania had committed to manufacturing 80 planes under the BAC licence, with the first Rombac taking to the skies in 1982, the government abandoned the project in 1990 after Ceausescu's fall.

Of the nine built, some flew under the colours of a small company, LAR, created by the communist regime with the sole destination of Tel Aviv.

Romania was the only country in the former communist bloc to maintain diplomatic ties with Israel after the 1967 Six-Day War.

Others were leased in the 1980s by national company Tarom to the low-cost company Ryanair.

Today all that remains is the presidential plane and a second Rombac, also put up for sale in Thursday's auction at the same price of 25,000 euros and which sold for 160,000 euros (195,000 dollars).

The others have been dismembered or abandoned at airports around the world.

With "Socialist Republic of Romania" once emblazoned on its side, a Rombac plane, part of ex-dictator Nicolae Ceausescu's fleet, went under the hammer on Thursday and was finally sold for 120,000 euros (146,000 dollars).

With "Socialist Republic of Romania" once emblazoned on its side, a Rombac plane, part of ex-dictator Nicolae Ceausescu's fleet, went under the hammer on Thursday and was finally sold for 120,000 euros (146,000 dollars). Some 150 collectors and aviation enthusiasts were expected to compete -- online and by phone -- for what auction house Artmark called the sale's "gem", which carried a starting price of 25,000 euros ($30,500), spokeswoman Alina Panico told AFP. At the same auction, a luxury car model Paykan Hillman Hunter given to Ceausescu by the Shah of Iran in 1974 was sold for 95,000 euros (115,000 dollars) to a Romanian collector. Also read | Albert Einstein's letter with famous E=mc2 equation sold for $1.3 million The medium-haul Rombac Super One-Eleven was made in Bucharest under licence from the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC), making the country the first in eastern Europe to produce air planes. Rolled out in 1986, it was part of Ceausescu's fleet until December 1989, when he was overthrown and, together with his wife Elena, executed. 'Crowning achievement' Seen by Ceausescu "as a crowning achievement of Romanian industry", according to Artmark, it was the fifth of nine built under a 300-million-pound contract. "We were proud of this type of aircraft, which at the time included cutting-edge solutions," said Gheorghe Marica, a retired military pilot who has flown the plane. Also read | Brazil's Jaime Lerner, urban transport pioneer, dies at 83 Ceausescu had demanded that his planes include a bedroom and an office, where he and his wife could play their favourite game backgammon, according to a former Boeing pilot of the couple, who requested anonymity. This Boeing pilot and several others told AFP that Ceausescu didn't travel in the Rombac itself, as Artmark has said, but instead preferred a Boeing 707. After Ceausescu's fall, the aircraft was included in state aviation company Romavia's fleet. It was lent to Pakistan's Aero Asia for some time before being left in a hangar. Romavia went bankrupt in 2014, and its assets were put up for sale. Also read | Brazil's Jaime Lerner, urban transport pioneer, dies at 83 To prevent it from being sold for scrap, a handful of enthusiasts secured the Rombac's "national heritage" status from the current government in March. "The device cannot be dismembered or modified, and above all cannot leave Romanian territory," Adrian Ciutan, the former Rombac technician behind the campaign, told AFP. But it could be exhibited or -- with a significant investment -- be revived. "It's hard to revive it. It should be re-motorised as its current motors are not authorised because of the noise they make. Also, its parts have expired," Marica said. Royal welcome The plane's history dates back to Ceausescu's state visit to the UK in 1978, the first of its kind for a communist leader. Seen at the time as a dissident within the Soviet bloc, the dictator -- who ruled Romania from 1965 -- was feted with a ride in a gilded carriage to Buckingham Palace alongside Queen Elizabeth II and a state banquet held in his honour. The British wanted to "break the ice with the communist countries and had chosen to do so through someone who had distanced himself from Moscow," Marica told AFP. BAC also welcomed the project as it was finding it increasingly difficult to sell its planes, which were deemed too noisy, according to the Boeing pilot. Although Romania had committed to manufacturing 80 planes under the BAC licence, with the first Rombac taking to the skies in 1982, the government abandoned the project in 1990 after Ceausescu's fall. Of the nine built, some flew under the colours of a small company, LAR, created by the communist regime with the sole destination of Tel Aviv. Romania was the only country in the former communist bloc to maintain diplomatic ties with Israel after the 1967 Six-Day War. Others were leased in the 1980s by national company Tarom to the low-cost company Ryanair. Today all that remains is the presidential plane and a second Rombac, also put up for sale in Thursday's auction at the same price of 25,000 euros and which sold for 160,000 euros (195,000 dollars). The others have been dismembered or abandoned at airports around the world.

Plane of Romania's ex-dictator's fleet sold at auction

Zimbabwe&#39;s ruling party will dismiss President Robert Mugabe on Sunday and reinstate Emmerson Mnangagwa, the vice-president he fired, two party sources told Reuters on Saturday, as ecstatic crowds celebrated the expected downfall.

Mugabe&#39;s 37-year rule has been effectively at an end since the army seized control on Wednesday, confining him to his residence, saying it wanted to target the &quot;criminals&quot; around him.

State television said Mugabe would meet military commanders on Sunday, quoting Catholic priest Fidelis Mukonori, who has been mediating in negotiations with the president.

But hundreds of thousands of people had no need for a formal signal that his time had ended as they flooded the streets of Harare, singing, dancing and hugging soldiers.

In scenes reminiscent of the downfall of Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu in 1989, men, women and children ran alongside the armoured cars and the troops who stepped in this week to oust the only ruler Zimbabwe has known since independence in 1980.

Others marched towards his lavish &#39;Blue Roof&#39; residence but were kept away by soldiers.

Under house arrest in his compound, the 93-year-old has watched support from his party, security services and people evaporate in less than three days.

The sources said a ZANU-PF party central committee meeting scheduled for 10:30 a.m. (0830 GMT) would also dismiss 93-year-old Mugabe&#39;s preferred successor, his wife Grace, from her role as head of the ZANU-PF Women&#39;s League.

Mugabe&#39;s nephew Patrick Zhuwao, speaking from an undisclosed location in South Africa, told Reuters the leader and his wife were &quot;ready to die for what is correct&quot; rather than step down in order to legitimise what he described as a coup.

Zhuwao also said that only Mugabe, who had hardly slept since the military took over but was otherwise in &quot;good&quot; health, could call a meeting of the central committee.

&quot;Tears of joy&quot;

It was not clear from reading the party&#39;s constitution who is empowered to call such a meeting - but events appeared to have made the issue irrelevant.

On Harare&#39;s streets, Zimbabweans spoke of a second liberation for the former British colony, alongside their dreams of political and economic change after two decades of deepening repression and hardship.

&quot;These are tears of joy,&quot; said Frank Mutsindikwa, 34, holding aloft the Zimbabwean flag. &quot;I&#39;ve been waiting all my life for this day. Free at last. We are free at last.&quot;

Mugabe&#39;s downfall is likely to send shockwaves across Africa, where a number of entrenched strongmen, from Uganda&#39;s Yoweri Museveni to Democratic Republic of Congo&#39;s Joseph Kabila, are facing mounting pressure to step aside.

The crowds in Harare have so far given a quasi-democratic veneer to the army&#39;s intervention, backing its claims that it is merely effecting a constitutional transfer of power, which would help it avoid the diplomatic backlash and opprobrium that normally follows a coup.

The military had been prompted to act by Mugabe&#39;s decision to sack Mnangagwa, Grace Mugabe&#39;s main rival to succeed her husband. The next presidential election is due next year.

Zimbabweans abroad were also hailing the end of Mugabe&#39;s rule, not least the hundreds living in Britain who gathered outside their embassy in central London.

&ldquo;I&rsquo;m ecstatic to see people give Mugabe a reality check because he has been in his echo chamber for too long, lying to himself that people still want him,&quot; said Ruva Kudambo, 37, who came to study technology and ended up staying.

Tasa, a 36-year-old who refused to give his family name, said he had brought his four young children, aged 5 to 9, to the protest &quot;because they are the future of Zimbabwe&quot;.

No&nbsp;Dis-Grace

For some Africans, Mugabe remains a nationalist hero, the continent&#39;s last independence leader and a symbol of its struggle to throw off the legacy of decades of colonial subjugation.

But too much more at home and abroad, he was reviled as a dictator happy to resort to violence to retain power and to run a once-promising economy into the ground.

Political sources and intelligence documents seen by Reuters said Mugabe&#39;s exit was likely to pave the way for an interim unity government led by Mnangagwa, a life-long Mugabe aide and former security chief known as &quot;The Crocodile&quot;.

Stabilising the free-falling economy will be the number one priority, the documents said.

The United States, a long-time critic of Mugabe, said it was looking forward to a &quot;new era&quot; in Zimbabwe, while President Ian Khama of neighbouring Botswana said Mugabe had no diplomatic support in the region and should resign at once.

The Herald, the state newspaper that has served as Mugabe&#39;s loyal mouthpiece, said ZANU-PF had called on Friday for him to go. It said ZANU-PF branches in all 10 provinces had also called for the resignation of Grace, the first lady whose ambitions to succeed her husband outraged the military and much of the country.

To many Zimbabweans, she is known as &quot;Gucci Grace&quot; on account of her reported dedication to shopping, or - in the wake of an alleged assault in September on a South African model - &quot;Dis-Grace&quot;.

Stubborn&nbsp;

The scenes in Harare reflect the anger and frustration that has built up among Zimbabwe&#39;s 16 million people in nearly two decades of economic mismanagement that started with the seizure of white-owned farms in 2000, the catalyst of a wider collapse.

The central bank tried to print its way out of trouble by unleashing a flood of cash but that only made matters worse, leading to hyperinflation that topped out at 500 billion percent in 2008.

At least 3 million Zimbabweans emigrated in search of a better life, most of them to neighbouring South Africa.

After stabilising briefly when Mugabe was forced to work with the opposition in a 2009-2013 unity government, the economy has collapsed again, this time due to a chronic shortage of dollars.

In October, monthly inflation leapt to more than 50 percent, according to some economists, putting basic goods beyond the means of many in a country with 90 percent unemployment.

Mugabe&#39;s only public appearance since the military took over was at a university graduation ceremony on Friday morning. Decked out in blue and yellow academic gowns, he appeared tired, at one point falling asleep in his chair.

A senior member of ZANU-PF said it was only a matter of time before he agreed to go.

&quot;If he becomes stubborn, we will arrange for him to be fired on Sunday,&quot; the source said. &quot;When that is done, it&#39;s impeachment on Tuesday.&quot;

Mugabe's 37-year rule has been effectively at an end since the army seized control on Wednesday, confining him to his residence, saying it wanted to target the "criminals" around him.

Zimbabwe's ruling party will dismiss President Robert Mugabe on Sunday and reinstate Emmerson Mnangagwa, the vice-president he fired, two party sources told Reuters on Saturday, as ecstatic crowds celebrated the expected downfall. Mugabe's 37-year rule has been effectively at an end since the army seized control on Wednesday, confining him to his residence, saying it wanted to target the "criminals" around him. State television said Mugabe would meet military commanders on Sunday, quoting Catholic priest Fidelis Mukonori, who has been mediating in negotiations with the president. But hundreds of thousands of people had no need for a formal signal that his time had ended as they flooded the streets of Harare, singing, dancing and hugging soldiers. In scenes reminiscent of the downfall of Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu in 1989, men, women and children ran alongside the armoured cars and the troops who stepped in this week to oust the only ruler Zimbabwe has known since independence in 1980. Others marched towards his lavish 'Blue Roof' residence but were kept away by soldiers. Under house arrest in his compound, the 93-year-old has watched support from his party, security services and people evaporate in less than three days. The sources said a ZANU-PF party central committee meeting scheduled for 10:30 a.m. (0830 GMT) would also dismiss 93-year-old Mugabe's preferred successor, his wife Grace, from her role as head of the ZANU-PF Women's League. Mugabe's nephew Patrick Zhuwao, speaking from an undisclosed location in South Africa, told Reuters the leader and his wife were "ready to die for what is correct" rather than step down in order to legitimise what he described as a coup. Zhuwao also said that only Mugabe, who had hardly slept since the military took over but was otherwise in "good" health, could call a meeting of the central committee. "Tears of joy" It was not clear from reading the party's constitution who is empowered to call such a meeting - but events appeared to have made the issue irrelevant. On Harare's streets, Zimbabweans spoke of a second liberation for the former British colony, alongside their dreams of political and economic change after two decades of deepening repression and hardship. "These are tears of joy," said Frank Mutsindikwa, 34, holding aloft the Zimbabwean flag. "I've been waiting all my life for this day. Free at last. We are free at last." Mugabe's downfall is likely to send shockwaves across Africa, where a number of entrenched strongmen, from Uganda's Yoweri Museveni to Democratic Republic of Congo's Joseph Kabila, are facing mounting pressure to step aside. The crowds in Harare have so far given a quasi-democratic veneer to the army's intervention, backing its claims that it is merely effecting a constitutional transfer of power, which would help it avoid the diplomatic backlash and opprobrium that normally follows a coup. The military had been prompted to act by Mugabe's decision to sack Mnangagwa, Grace Mugabe's main rival to succeed her husband. The next presidential election is due next year. Zimbabweans abroad were also hailing the end of Mugabe's rule, not least the hundreds living in Britain who gathered outside their embassy in central London. “I’m ecstatic to see people give Mugabe a reality check because he has been in his echo chamber for too long, lying to himself that people still want him," said Ruva Kudambo, 37, who came to study technology and ended up staying. Tasa, a 36-year-old who refused to give his family name, said he had brought his four young children, aged 5 to 9, to the protest "because they are the future of Zimbabwe". No Dis-Grace For some Africans, Mugabe remains a nationalist hero, the continent's last independence leader and a symbol of its struggle to throw off the legacy of decades of colonial subjugation. But too much more at home and abroad, he was reviled as a dictator happy to resort to violence to retain power and to run a once-promising economy into the ground. Political sources and intelligence documents seen by Reuters said Mugabe's exit was likely to pave the way for an interim unity government led by Mnangagwa, a life-long Mugabe aide and former security chief known as "The Crocodile". Stabilising the free-falling economy will be the number one priority, the documents said. The United States, a long-time critic of Mugabe, said it was looking forward to a "new era" in Zimbabwe, while President Ian Khama of neighbouring Botswana said Mugabe had no diplomatic support in the region and should resign at once. The Herald, the state newspaper that has served as Mugabe's loyal mouthpiece, said ZANU-PF had called on Friday for him to go. It said ZANU-PF branches in all 10 provinces had also called for the resignation of Grace, the first lady whose ambitions to succeed her husband outraged the military and much of the country. To many Zimbabweans, she is known as "Gucci Grace" on account of her reported dedication to shopping, or - in the wake of an alleged assault in September on a South African model - "Dis-Grace". Stubborn The scenes in Harare reflect the anger and frustration that has built up among Zimbabwe's 16 million people in nearly two decades of economic mismanagement that started with the seizure of white-owned farms in 2000, the catalyst of a wider collapse. The central bank tried to print its way out of trouble by unleashing a flood of cash but that only made matters worse, leading to hyperinflation that topped out at 500 billion percent in 2008. At least 3 million Zimbabweans emigrated in search of a better life, most of them to neighbouring South Africa. After stabilising briefly when Mugabe was forced to work with the opposition in a 2009-2013 unity government, the economy has collapsed again, this time due to a chronic shortage of dollars. In October, monthly inflation leapt to more than 50 percent, according to some economists, putting basic goods beyond the means of many in a country with 90 percent unemployment. Mugabe's only public appearance since the military took over was at a university graduation ceremony on Friday morning. Decked out in blue and yellow academic gowns, he appeared tired, at one point falling asleep in his chair. A senior member of ZANU-PF said it was only a matter of time before he agreed to go. "If he becomes stubborn, we will arrange for him to be fired on Sunday," the source said. "When that is done, it's impeachment on Tuesday."

Party set to sack Mugabe, Zimbabweans celebrate expected downfall

These men are proof that sometimes with great power comes insane self-indulgence

While the concept of a democratic government is over two centuries old, modern history has witnessed the rise of some of the most oppressive dictators. Self-absorbed and narcissistic, these are the some of the craziest autocrats who implemented bizarre rules under their reign: Saparmurat Niyazov: Turkmenistan’s Niyazov was one of the most self-obsessed dictators of all times. He gave himself the title of Turkmenbashi- meaning Leader of All Ethnic Turkmen and went on to declare himself president of the country for life. Niyazov created a new image for the country, where he named all public spaces, from streets to landmarks, after himself. What’s bizarre: Every clock or watch in Turkmenistan had his face Young men were forbidden to grow long hair and beards Music was banned in the country A statue of Turkmenistan's former President Saparmurad Niyazov in Asghaban (AFP) × Kim Il Sung: Since his appointment as the Supreme Leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea), Kim’s forces took some 200,000 political prisoners, who were kept in concentration camps. North Korea lacked freedom of the press, religion, political opposition and education. Kim lived a life of luxury, while the country faced severe economic sanctions. What’s bizarre: Kim ate sushi, especially flown in from Japan Followers were made to believe that their ‘Dear Leader’ neither urinates nor defecates, and has the power to control the weather North Korean military officers and citizens holding a rally to celebrate the September 9 nuclear warhead test in Kim Il-Sung Square in Pyongyang (AFP) × Idi Amin Dada: Third president of Uganda, Amin led a military coup to gain absolute power after promoting himself as head of the state. He was often perceived as mentally unstable as his regime was characterised with corruption, nepotism, oppression and mass killings. The casualties range between 80,000 and 500,000, with many of them being meted out systematic torture. What’s bizarre: Reports claim that he ate his enemies and even fed them to crocodiles Wrote love letters to Queen Elizabeth Uganda People`s Defence Force (UPDF) march during the celebration to mark the fall of Idi Amin Dada 11 April 2002. (AFP) × Nicolae Ceausescu: Like other self-obsessed dictators of his kind, Nicolae was fond of giving himself titles such as “Conducator” meaning Leader and “Geniul din Carpa?i” meaning The Genius of the Carpathians. He even created an executive presidency and had a scepter made for himself like a king. What’s bizarre: He carried out destruction of 19 churches, six synagogues and 30,000 homes to build a palace for himself. It cost the Romanian treasury a total of $10 billion Gold buttons belonging to Nicolae Ceausescu are exhibited at an auction in Bucharest (AFP) × Mao Zedong: Mao Zedong, the founding father of the People’s Republic of China experimented with China’s economy, resulting in severe financial losses. His policy ‘Great Leap Forward’ shifted the country from an agrarian economy to a manufacturing one, by pulling out farmers from the field and assigning them to mill steel. Millions died after this, due to starvation. What’s bizarre: Launched the Cultural Revolution, which led to the elimination of the country’s intelligentsia and his political opponents Academics suffered and teachers were forced out of schools and colleges Set up the ‘Red Guards’ enlisting youth to correct the bourgeois elements in China’s society Considered himself to be the only genius in the country Cantonese opera actors dressed as Red Guards perform in a show portraying late Chinese communist leader Mao Zedong (AFP) × (Contributed by: Zeba Khan)

Self-obsessed autocrats and their bizarre rules