Iraq’s Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has warned the newly-elected President Fouad Masoum, a Kurd, to call on him to try and form a government as leader of the largest party in parliament.

Al-Maliki has gone on the attack following the Supreme Court’s decision on Monday morning to allow him to serve a third consecutive term in office, effectively changing the constitution.

A member of al-Maliki’s State of Law party said the ruling meant the president would violate the constitution if he did not invite the biggest party to have first attempt at forming a government.

Al-Maliki has been accused of divisive politics and being incapable of stopping the advance of the Sunni extremist ISIL, now just 100 kilometres from Baghdad.