Kerry meets Iraqi leaders, discusses anti-terror strategy

US Secretary of State John Kerry met with the new Iraqi leaders Wednesday in Baghdad and discussed building up a strategy against the Islamic State (IS) Sunni extremist group.

During the visit, Kerry held a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, who called for the international community to assist Iraq's struggle against the IS, Xinhua reported.

"Our role is to defend our country, but the international community is also responsible to protect Iraq, and protect the whole region," Abadi told reporters in English after his meeting with Kerry.

"What is happening in Syria is coming across the international border to Iraq. There is a role for the international community and for the United Nations, and for the United States to act immediately," to tackle the threat of the militants in neighbouring Syria, he said.

For his part, Kerry hailed the new Iraqi leadership for the quick formation of a new government, saying that he was impressed by the prime minister's plans to rebuild the Iraqi military and push broad political reforms.

Kerry said he was "encouraged" by al-Abadi's "commitment to broad reforms that are necessary in Iraq to bring every segment of Iraqi society to the table", and praised his government's readiness to move forward to conclude an "oil agreements necessary for the Kurds, and on the representation of Sunnis in government and participation".

He said that the US was prepared, together with many other countries, to form a broad coalition "in order to take on this terrorist structure, which is unacceptable by any standard anywhere in the world".

Earlier in the day, Kerry arrived in Baghdad on an unannounced visit to hold talks with the new Iraqi leaders. His visit is part of his Middle East tour to consult with US partners and allies in a bid to seek support for the anti-terrorism coalition.

The security situation in Iraq has been worsening since June when armed Sunni insurgents, spearheaded by IS, launched a surprise offensive that led to the debacle of Iraqi security forces, and the fall of a large part of the country's northern and western territories.

Despite his reluctance to return to Iraq with ground troops, US President Barack Obama is now trying to build up a global coalition to root out the brutal jihadi group both in Iraq and Syria.

While Washington continues with its airstrikes against Islamist militants in Iraq, the Obama administration is about to unveil its long-term strategy to defeat the IS.