Brazil's former president leads political rally, claims innocence on eve of appeal trial

RIO DE JANEIRO, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva Tuesday led a rally in the southern city of Porto Alegre in support of himself, claiming that his lawyers have already managed to prove his innocence after being convicted of corruption.

On Wednesday, an appeal trial will be held in Porto Alegre to decide whether Lula committed corruption and money laundering.

In his first trial, Lula was found guilty and sentenced to nine years of prison. However, the former president appealed the decision.

Lula spoke to thousands of people gathering in the rally which organizers estimated 70,000 people had managed to attend. Lula said his innocence had already been proven in the first trial and that he believes the judges in charge of his case will make their decision based on the actual process.

Lula's defense claims that Judge Sergio Moro in charge of the first trial was politically motivated and deliberately ignored significant evidence of his innocence.

Lula's supporters and critics have been crowding the city over the past few days. The Workers' Party founded by Lula organized rallies with the participation of the party's most prominent figures including Lula's successor Dilma Rousseff. Enditem