| HONECKER | Erich ---, the head of state of East Germany 1976-89 (8) |
| TREIBER | Birgit ....... , East Germany 1976 Olympics 100m and 200m backstroke swimming silver medallist behind compatriot Ulrike Richter (7) |
| ANDROPOV | Yuri _, head of state of the Soviet Union (1983-84) |
| TAILINGS | Shadowing the head of state to get the mining dregs (8) |
| GOVERNOR | A carburettor component for the head of state (8) |
| MATTRESS | Though meant to give comfort, it confuses matters for the head of state (8) |
| CONTACTS | Connections made with diplomacy by the head of state (8) |
| CAMBODIA | Nation known as Kampuchea from 1976-89 |
| EJECTION | Because of state of depression, Penny escaped dismissal (8) |
| PRESIDENT | The head of state of the US (9) |
| EMIR | Title of the heads of state of Kuwait and Qatar (4) |
| MAO | First head of state of the People's Republic of China |
| NORIEGA | Manuel ___, military leader; de facto head of state of Panama from 1983-89 (7) |
| GORBACHEV | Mikhail ---, head of state of the Soviet Union 1988-91 (9) |
| AMIN | Idi ?, head of state of Uganda from 1971-79 |
| PETAIN | Head of State of Vichy France (6) |
| SANDRAMASON | Head of state of Barbados, replacing Queen Elizabeth II on November 30 2021 |
| TARABA | State of east Nigeria created out of the former Gongola State in 1991; capital, Jalingo (6) |
| REPUBLIC | Form of government where the head of state is not a monarch (8) |
| STASI | Common name for the secret police force of the former republic of East Germany, disbanded in 1990 (5) |
