AKIPRESS.COM - Former Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will be imprisoned while he appeals his corruption conviction, the country's Supreme Court has ruled.

He is facing 12 years in jail on charges of accepting a bribe but had asked to remain free during his appeal, BBC reported.

Lula claims the charges are politically motivated, and designed to prevent him from running for president in October.

He has a lead in opinion polls. His Workers Party said the ruling was a "tragic day for democracy and Brazil".

The Supreme Court judges ruled against him by six to five after a marathon session, which ended in the early hours of Thursday.