NASRALLAH CONTINUES TO BE HIZBULLAH CHIEF Hassan Nasrallah was given a rousing endorsement for his continued leadership of the Iranian-sponsored Hizbullah.

Nasrallah, 44, was elected unanimously to continue for at least another three years as secretary-general of Hizbullah. He has been in the post since 1992.

A Hizbullah statement on Monday said the national congress reelected all of the members of the Shura Council. In turn, the seven-member consultative council chose Nasrallah to remain as chief of the insurgency group. This will be Nasrallah's fifth term.

Nasrallah has been a founding member of Hizbullah, and replaced the late Abbas Mussawi, assassinated by Israel, in 1992. He frequently travels to Teheran to consult with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and ruling clerics regarding Hizbullah strategy.

Under Nasrallah, Hizbullah forced Israel to withdraw from southern Lebanon in 2000 and then took over the area. The group, which launches regular attacks on Israeli troops and civilians, was said to have 12,000 rockets and missiles along the Israeli-Lebanese border.

The statement said the Shura Council would announce the portfolios of its members of the new few days.

Hizbullah, regarded by the State Department as the leading Islamic insurgency group in the world, has also participated in Lebanese politics.

The group has nine legislators in the 128-member parliament.