ROME, April 21 (Xinhua) -- Italy's premier-in-waiting Romano Prodi on Friday played down signs of coalition infighting which were already fueling doubts about his disparate alliance's ability to stick together.

    Prodi, whose ultra-slim victory in the April 9 and 10 general election was confirmed two days ago by the Supreme Court after a review of disputed ballots, told reporters that his allies were willing to accept his decision in a squabble over parliament's two prestigious speakership posts, according to Italian News Agency ANSA.

    The row has centered on the Lower House speaker job in particular, pitting Democratic Left (DS) Chairman and former premier Massimo D' Alema against Italian Communist Refoundation Party (PRC) chief Fausto Bertinotti.

    Prodi, who has already held talks with D'Alema and plans to meet Bertinotti on Friday evening, said he would "calmly" make his decision by Monday.

    "Everyone has agreed to accept the decision which won't be a difficult one although it could be painful, as with all such decisions," said Prodi, whose nine-party coalition ranges from communists and anti-clericalists to staunch Catholics.

    He denied there were any "feelings of discontent" in the DS, the largest centre-left party.

    The DS is pushing for the Lower House speaker's job in recognition of its weight within the alliance.

    But Bertinotti, who brought down Prodi's first 1996-98 government, has stood his ground, arguing that the speakership post will "improve coalition stability" and stressing that his party is the third biggest in the alliance.

    Bertinotti refused to comment on the impasse on Friday but D' Alema told reporters: "We don't want to create a rift with the PRCbut it's a problem regarding the role of the biggest force within the coalition".

    "We will respect Prodi's decision," said D'Alema, who has denied any personal interest in the speakership job and says his party is insisting on his candidacy.

    The rise in tensions highlighted the potential weakness of Prodi's position - the former European Commission chief, who has no party of his own, won by just 24,755 votes in the Lower House and has a majority of two seats in the Senate.

    Meanwhile, Berlusconi still refuses to acknowledge Prodi's win.

    When asked if Berlusconi had called him to concede defeat, Prodi said: "If Berlusconi phones, then he does but if he doesn't, democracy will still keep going. Enditem