Imprisoned Lula is still 'our candidate,' his party says

Former president Luiz Lula da Silva who is currently serving 12 years of imprisonment in Curitiba jail is still the worker's party candidate in upcoming Brazil presidential election in October, his party said.

The party chief Gleisi Hoffmann said outside the police station in Curitiba, "he is our candidate no matter the circumstances,"

The leftist icon sundered himself on late Saturday after a long standoff with the authorities in Sao Bernardo do Campo He had ignored court orders to turn himself in by Friday.

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But on Saturday, he decided to surrender but was blocked by his own supporters causing chaos on streets as the supporters raised slogans like "don't surrender, stay here Lula!'.

Brazil's president for two terms from 2003-2010 Lula is reportedly the still favourtite leader in the voter surveys. But there are still no confirmed reports whether he can legally run for the elections or not.

He should be declared ineligible in August after having his conviction upheld once by an appeals court.

But he and his party are gambling that he could be released from prison before then and go on to contest the election.

Lula's supporters cried openly while the he was taken to the custody, They remembered him for removing tens of millions of people from poverty and for connected with voters in a way few, if any, other modern Brazilian politicians have managed.

Lula has been arrested on corruption charges as he was found guilty of taking a luxury apartment as bribe from a construction company.

Brazil's Supreme Court is currently considering the laws that have put Lula behind bars while his lawyers are still pursuing appeals.

A vote by the court's justices could take place on Wednesday. If it goes ahead, Lula could be released -- for now -- or remain in his cell. Or, for procedural reasons that often muddy Brazilian judicial deliberations, it may not even get as far as a vote.

(With inputs from AFP)