Amid criticism that the decision of Afghan Election Commission on Presidential polls was not legal, the US on Thursday said that it considers Hamid Karzai as the legitimately elected president of the war-torn country. State Department spokesman Ian Kelly told reporters that there was an election that was carried out according to Afghan law.His statement assumes significance in the wake of main opposition leader Abdullah Abdullah disputing the decision of the Independent Election Commission which declared Karzai asthe next Afghan President after he withdrew from the Saturday's run-off. Noting that the US respects Abdullah, Kelly hoped that he stays engaged in the political process and plays a part in the dialogue and the political life of the country.