US urges Iraqi PM not to stir trouble

US secretary of state John Kerry has urged Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki not to stir up trouble, hours after the embattled leader accused the country's new president of violating the constitution.

Speaking in Sydney, Australia, on Monday, Mr Kerry said Iraq needs to finish its government formation process and the US will do everything possible in order to support the Middle Eastern country's constitution.

Mr Maliki, who is resisting calls to stand down, has accused President Fouad Massoum of violating the country's constitution.

Mr Kerry says Mr Massoum is following Iraq's constitution.

"We believe that the government formation process is critical in terms of sustaining the stability and calm in Iraq. Our hope is that Mr Maliki will not stir those waters," Mr Kerry said.

"There will be little international support for anything whatsoever that deviates form the legitimate constitutional process that's in place and is being worked on now.

"They need to finish that and give a new government an opportunity to be voted on moving forward."

Mr Kerry is in Sydney for high-level talks with the federal government.