Trevi back in jail

Ms Trevi had been living in a convent in Brasilia

A court in Brazil has sent Mexican pop star Gloria Trevi back to jail less than two weeks after she won the right to house arrest, while she waits to hear whether she will be extradited to Mexico.

Ms Trevi, who had been staying at a convent in Brasilia, was ordered to return to a police prison cell by a Supreme Court magistrate, who revoked the decision that had been made in his absence.

Her freedom appeared imminent late last month when a Mexican judge declared the much-stalled extradition process to be unconstitutional.

A judge then agreed to let her and her son move from jail to a convent until the issue of her extradition was resolved.

However, Supreme Court magistrate Carlos Velloso ordered her back behind bars on returning from his holiday, saying the house arrest "contradicts a decision taken by the Supreme Court".

The singer is facing charges of corruption

Brazilian authorities are now waiting to hear about the status of the extradition order.

The singer is wanted in Mexico for questioning on charges that she was an accomplice in the abuse of a 17-year-old girl who was in her care for musical training.

She was arrested in Rio de Janeiro in January 2000 along with her manager, Sergio Andrade and choreographer Maria Raquenel Portillo, who are also facing charges.

Ms Trevi became pregnant while behind bars, despite being in a prison in Brazil where men and women are segregated and conjugal visits are banned.

She gave birth to her son Angel Gabriel five months ago, amid suggestions that she planned the pregnancy to avoid being deported.

Brazilian police say that DNA tests show Mr Andrade, who spent some time in the same jail, to be the father of the child.

However she has refused to say who the father is, leading to speculation that she was raped in prison or successfully achieved artificial insemination.

Ms Trevi, dubbed the "Mexican Madonna", shot to fame in her home country in the 1990s with her provocative stage shows and controversial views on women's issues.

She claims her life would be in danger if she returned to Mexico because prominent figures in business and politics want to silence her before she talks about local corruption.