Lula delivers defiant speech before turning himself in

BRASILIA, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's ex-president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Saturday delivered a defiant speech to fellow members of the left-leaning Workers' Party and other supporters, before turning himself in to authorities.

Lula, who this week lost his latest appeal to avoid a 12-year prison sentence, and with it his hopes of running for reelection in October, said taking away his freedom would only fuel the struggle for justice.

"The more days I spend in there, the more Lulas will emerge around the country," said the blue-collar worker who became president of Latin America's largest economy and lifted millions out of poverty during his two terms in office.

In a nearly hour-long speech from the headquarters of the Metalworkers' Union in Sao Paulo, an emotional Lula said, "They must know that a soldier's death does not stop the revolution."

Lula also insisted on his innocence, saying: "The crime I committed is to have governed for the poor."

The popular ex-president consistently led the list of potential candidates in the fall elections, despite accusations that he accepted perks from a major company later given juicy government construction contracts, including the use of a luxury beachside apartment.

Prosecutors claimed the apartment was a gift from the company, though they never presented evidence proving his ownership, according to Lula's legal team.

Lula missed the 5 p.m. Friday deadline imposed by a judge to turn himself in to police, but said during his speech he would.

"I will do as they asked," said Lula, from the place where he began his political career as a union leader. Enditem