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Former Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva Image Credit: Reuters

BRASMLIA: Brazil's Supreme Court on Thursday rejected former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's bid to delay a 12 year prison sentence for corruption, a ruling that could upend presidential elections in Latin America's biggest country.

The 6-5 ruling means that Lula - who was Brazil's most popular leader on record and is the frontrunner ahead of the October 7 polls - could be arrested within days.