Ukraine's Tymoshenko rejects result

Under Ukrainian law, instances of suspected fraud must first be proven by local courts. Only if there is a large quantity of proven violations can one side appeal to a higher court for a recount or even a re-run of an election.

Such organised action could -- at the very least -- delay official publication of the final election results and hold up any inauguration of a new president. This normally takes place within 30 days of publication of results.

If Tymoshenko conceded defeat, Yanukovich could normally have expected to be sworn in as president in mid-March.

International monitors declared the election an "impressive display" of democracy and urged a peaceful transition of power. There were no serious irregularities, they said.

Yanukovich campaign manager Borys Kolesnykov ruled out any re-run of the election following Sunday's second round run-off.

"What third round? There are no reasons for it. What, the fact that she lost with disgrace? She will go on until an eighth round before they elect her," he told Reuters. "There will be no third round. There will be courts -- please go to court -- but there is no legal basis (for action)."

Tymoshenko herself did not appear in parliament but she was due to give a news conference later Tuesday.

There was no mood in the snow-bound capital Kiev for a repeat of the street protests co-led by Tymoshenko which overturned a previous Yanukovich victory in the 2004 election later declared fraudulent.

Tymoshenko cannot catch up with Yanukovich in the vote-count although just 734,000 votes separated the two sides, in a vote that underscored Ukraine's deep divide.

As votes trickled in Sunday evening, the 49-year-old former gas tycoon cried fraud but backed away from an earlier threat to call people out onto the streets.