Lebanese authorities have arrested nine men suspected of planning to assassinate Sayed Hassan Nasrallah, the head of Hezbollah.

The suspects are both Lebanese and Palestinians, said security officials on condition of anonymity on Monday.

Security forces seized an unknown quantity of weapons with the suspects, the officials said.

One senior security official said "the plot was at an early stage".

There was no comment from the anti-Israeli Hezbollah.

Another security source said the suspects were planning to assassinate Nasrallah on April 28, the day when he was expected to attend another round of national dialogue talks with other leaders at the Lebanese parliament.

Nasrallah's movements in Lebanon are known to be limited and he is usually accompanied by heavy security.

His predecessor, Sayyed Abbas al-Mousawi, was killed in an Israeli raid in 1992.

PHOTO CAPTION

Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah attends a new session of the national dialogue conference, in the Parliament building, in Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, March 27, 2006. (AP)