Baby 'could keep singer in Brazil'

Gloria Trevi (in blue) has been moved to hospital

Mexican pop star Gloria Trevi's child - due in January - could save her from extradition from Brazil to her home country.

The baby will be born in Brazil, and could not be extradited itself, meaning its mother could not be forced to leave the country either, experts say.

Trevi - dubbed the Mexican Madonna - was recently moved to a hospital after being held in prison in Rio since January 2000.

Trevi has a 24-hour guard in hospital

She is wanted in Mexico on sex charges - but says her life would be in danger if sent back.

It is currently unknown how the singer got pregnant in jail.

She claims to have been raped by a policeman, but there has been speculation that she was artificially inseminated in a ploy to avoid extradition.

The fact that her child will be born in Brazil, and therefore have Brazilian citizenship, could now provide Trevi's lifeline.

"If she's pregnant it complicates the extradition," Attorney Wanderlei Revelo, expert in the country's immigration law, said.

"If she has a Brazilian child she can't be extradited."

Brazilian law says the fact that a prisoner has a Brazilian baby should not block the parent's extradition - but that has not always been enforced by judges.

Gloria Trevi rose to fame in the 1980s after her provocative stage shows

No mother of a Brazilian has ever been extradited from the country, although several men with Brazilian children have been.

A former cellmate of Trevi has also said the singer was desperate to get pregnant, and was overjoyed when she did.

"She said that the only way out was to get pregnant, have a Brazilian child," said Ieda Souza.

Trevi was moved to a hospital on 26 December after a judge ruled she could be admitted for the final stages of her pregnancy.

Patients and staff have said the singer is receiving privileged treatment, according to local press reports.

24-hour guard

She is staying in a private room despite doctors saying her pregnancy and health is "normal".

Police are keeping a 24-hour guard outside the room to stop her escaping.

Trevi, who is known for her provocative stage shows, has been held in Brazil since she, her manager Sergio Andrade and choreographer Maria Raquenel Portillo were charged in Mexico with corrupting a 17-year-old girl.

The girl's parents had put her into Mr Andrade's care for musical training.

A court recently temporarily overturned a ruling denying Trevi refugee status in Brazil.