KABUL: President Hamid Karzai's top challenger Abdullah Abdullah on Wednesday described the election body's decision to have announced the sitting Karzai as the winner as illegal and vowed to continue struggle.

Former Afghan presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah speaks during a news conference in Kabul November 4, 2009.  [Agencies]

"The decision announced by the so-called Independent Election Commission (IEC) on Monday is illegal and I am determined to continue my struggle for the betterment of the people," Abdullah said at his first press conference after Karzai was announced by IEC as the winner.

Abdullah quitted the runoff presidential election on Sunday in protest over what he termed "biased attitude of IEC" in Karzai's favor.

Last week, Abdullah had put several conditions including the sacking of election's body's chief Azizullah Ludin before going to runoff but president Karzai had rejected the demand.

The announcement made by IEC, Abdullah added, would not affect his career and he would continue to work for the benefit of the people of Afghanistan.

"I would continue to work and to struggle for the rule of law, for good governance, for transparency and for brining change which is the dire need of the people of Afghanistan," Abdullah stressed.

Abdullah also criticized president Karzai for what he described as his failure to improve the living condition of the people, saying an administration that has failed to purge corruption over the past eight years would not be able to do so in the future.