Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah is seriously ill from a chemical attack nearly two weeks ago, according to Iraqi sources quoted by Beirut diplomats. Nasrallah has not been seen in public for more than a week, but his aides have vehemently denied the report, published in the Iranian newspaper Khoursid.

It stated that Iran sent 15 doctors to Lebanon to save his life and that they are prepared to fly him to Iran, if necessary. They estimate that Nasrallah was poisoned by an unidentified chemical substance.

The report may explain rumors 10 days ago that Nasrallah has appointed his heir in case he is assassinated. Safi al-Din, the chairman of Hezbollah's executive council and Nasrallah's cousin, will take over the leadership of Hezbollah if "the Zionists succeed in assassinating Hassan Nasrallah," the newspaper reported.

Hezbollah officials have investigated everyone who has visited Nasrallah since the reported attack and also are questioning Hezbollah officials. Israel was immediately blamed for the attack, but it also may have been carried out Hezbollah dissidents.

Nasrallah took over as Hezbollah leader in 1992 after his predecessor Abbas Al-Mousawi, was assassinated.

Nasrallah reportedly was the target of an assassination attempt two years ago, shortly after the conclusion of the Second Lebanon War. The Lebanese A-Safir newspaper reported at the time that Lebanese army intelligence officials foiled an attempt on his life by a Palestinian-Lebanese cell.

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