Regional leaders console Brazil's ex-President Lula Published duration 3 February 2017 Related Topics Brazil political crisis

image copyright AP image caption Maria Leticia was Lula's second wife and they have been married for 43 years

Regional leaders have sent their condolences to Brazil's ex-President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

His wife of 43 years, Marisa Leticia da Silva, has been pronounced brain-dead a week after she was taken to hospital with a brain haemorrhage.

Several Latin American presidents have sent messages and there was a minute's silence in Brazil's Congress.

Marisa Leticia had helped Lula found the Worker's Party and is said to have made its first flag.

Doctors said the family had authorised the donation of her organs.

The left-wing presidents of Bolivia and Nicaragua both expressed their condolences.

Former Brazilian President Fernando Henrique Cardoso visited the hospital where she had been taken.

Once adored by many in Brazil, Lula ended his second term in 2011 with an 83% approval rating.

He had boosted Brazil's global profile and overseen rapid economic growth during a commodities boom.

But last year Lula and his wife became ensnared in a far-reaching corruption investigation involving the state oil company, Petrobras.