Uribe denies the charges and has appealed the conviction to the Superior Tribunal in Bogota, the country’s capital. The court has until mid-October to issue a definitive ruling on the case, which has gripped Colombia and also provoked reactions from Uribe’s allies in the United States.

A Colombia appeals court has ordered the release of former President Alvro Uribe from house arrest as he challenges his historic bribery and fraud conviction.

BOGOTA (Reuters) -Bogota's superior court has overturned a judge's order that former Colombia President Alvaro Uribe be held on house arrest while he appeals convictions for bribery of a public official and abuse of process, sources and a court document showed on Tuesday.