Rio de Janeiro, Mar 28 (IANS): The entourage of Brazil's former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was hit by gunshots in southern Brazil, his Workers' Party said.

One of the buses in a caravan for Lula's campaign tour was shot at four times in the state of Parana on Tuesday. No one was injured and Lula was not in one of the buses, Xinhua news agency reported.

Lula was Brazil's President from 2003 to 2010 and had been travelling around the country seeking support for another Presidential run in October.

However, the buses in which Lula's campaign group travels have already been hit with rocks and eggs along the tour.

On his Twitter account, the former President called the attackers "fascists".

"Our caravan is being stalked by fascist groups. They have thrown eggs and rocks. Today they even shot at the bus," he tweeted.

The police were investigating the case, which the Workers' Party's President Gleisi Hoffmann called an "ambush". Public Security Minister Raul Jungmann said he asked the local authorities to double their efforts on the case.

The Workers' Party considered the case an attempt against Lula's life. The former President has the lead in the polls for the upcoming Presidential election, but he may not be allowed to run, as he was recently found guilty of corruption and money laundering.

Lula's lawyers have appealed the decision in order to keep him out of jail.