These announcements have seemed aimed at cleansing the movement's image following the deaths of more than a million people during its brutal four-year reign from 1975 to 1979.

"The brutal reign of the heirs of Anaran is ended!"

Jezzar's death had been celebrated by the inhabitants of Damascus, who resented his rather brutal reign.

Mike Tyson, in his brief, brutal reign as world champion, reduced the appeal of heavyweight title fights to that of watching an egg timer.

Freed from Meldron's brutal reign, they knelt in the water and wept with gratitude at their release.

In due course he would get the clear shot he needed and the Vulture's brutal reign of terror would be ended once and for all.

The counselor was a madman and madmen made for short, brutal reigns.

The invasion ended three and a half years of brutal reign by the Khmer Rouge, during which at least a million Cambodians died.

He was still a figure who engendered awe and respect and even fear, like a Shakespearean king fading after a hard and brutal reign.

More than a third of Equatorial Guinea's population fled to other countries to escape his brutal reign.