SAO BERNARDO DO CAMPO, Brazil - Brazil's ex-president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva turned himself in to federal police on Saturday, after supporters initially tried to prevent him from handing himself over to the authorities.

After supporters blocked his vehicle, Lula left the headquarters of the Metalworkers' Union here in Sao Paulo state on foot at around 6:45 pm (2145 GMT).

Lula had spent the last two nights in the building, where he began his political career as a union leader.

On Thursday, he lost his latest appeal to avoid a 12-year prison sentence for corruption, ending his hopes of running for re-election in October.

A judge then gave him until 5:00 pm local time (2000 GMT) Friday to turn himself in, but Lula missed the deadline.

Earlier on Saturday, Lula participated in a massive political rally in the city and spoke to thousands of supporters for almost an hour.

The event, which was technically a religious service in honor of his late wife, whose birthday was on April 7, became a magnet of support to the former president.