Iraq PM's worst enemies could be Shi'ite allies

By Mariam Karouny

BAGHDAD, June 6 (Reuters) - Iraq's new Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has vowed to crush insurgents and sectarian gangs but rivals in his own Shi'ite Alliance could turn out to be his most dangerous foes.

Maliki failed to push through parliament nominees for the crucial Interior and Defence Ministry posts on Sunday after leaders of the SCIRI party in his Shi'ite Alliance blocked him.

His threats to choose his own people for the posts if political blocs failed to agree on names faded quickly after the national assembly was postponed indefinitely on Sunday, leaving Iraqis without the ministers charged with ending violence.

Officials in the Alliance and other blocs question whether his government can survive the pressure of internal rivalries, an insurgency that shows no signs of easing and sectarian bloodshed pushing the country dangerously close to civil war.

"Maliki's government may only last for another six months. That is what many think. There is too much pressure and too many players," said an Alliance source outside of Maliki's Dawa party.

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