A court in Moscow has convicted five people of carrying out a racist attack at a street market in the city, in which three people were killed and dozens injured.

One of the men, Mikhail Volkov, was sentenced to nine years in a maximum security prison for the attack a year ago.

Many of the attackers had swastika-like insignia

Three others were sentenced to three years, and a fourth was given a suspended sentence.

In the attack, several hundred youths armed with metal bars raided the market, targeting traders.

The three people killed were from India, Azerbaijan and Tajikistan.

The attackers ran through the markets wielding iron bars and chanting racist slogans.

Many of them wore the swastika-like insignia of the extreme right-wing movement Russian National Unity.

When police arrived and fired shots in the air, many of the rioters disappeared into the metro.

It is the first time in Russia that not only participants, but also an organiser of mass disorder on a nationalist basis, have received such lengthy sentences.

Attacks on the increase

There has been an increase in such attacks since Russian troops went back into the Caucasus republic of Chechnya in 1999, highlighting the danger posed by extremists and neo-Nazi groups, correspondents say.

Muscovites have long depended on traders from the Caucasus for much of their food.

Since the start of the first Chechen War in 1994, very few of the traders have actually been from Chechnya.

They come to Moscow from the neighbouring Stavropol region, or the former Soviet republic of Azerbaijan.

'Lax' security

The riot was the second of its kind last year.

In April, right-wing youths smashed up another market in southern Moscow on the anniversary of the birth of Adolf Hitler.

People of Caucasian origin often claim they are not protected by the authorities.

It is common to see darker-skinned people being stopped by the police in Moscow and having their documents checked, correspondents say.