Lisbon- Portugal's main skinhead leader was Friday sentenced to 4 years and 10 months in prison, judicial sources said.

Mario Machado, leader of the Portuguese section of the Hammerskin far-right group, was found guilty of racial discrimination, illegal possession of weapons, threats and violence.

Six others were also handed prison terms, the length of which was not immediately given.

Seventeen were given suspended prison sentences, seven were handed fines, and five were acquitted.

Machado and 35 other suspects were detained in November 2007 on charges including attacks against Africans and dark-skinned Portuguese.

Police seized firearms, munitions, knives, clubs, baseball bats and racist pamphlets. (dpa)