An appeals court was scheduled to decide yesterday whether to uphold the corruption conviction of Brazil's most influential politician, former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, a decision that would likely bar him from running in the presidential race this year. Tens of thousands of supporters rallied in the streets of Porto Alegre on Tuesday to protest against what they see as the political persecution of the leftist icon, who was sentenced to nine and a half years in prison for accepting a bribe.