The Ukrainska Pravda daily cited Tymoshenko that he would never recognise the legitimacy of of Yanukovich´s victory with such elections.

Tymoshenko had instructed her lawyers to prepare to contest the electoral results in court, the newspaper´s website reported. She also suggested holding a third round of voting.

Other Ukrainain websites carried the same reports, as did Russian wesbites.

Tymoshenko´s officials could not immediately be reached for comment.

Tymoshenko postponed a news conference she had been scheduled to hold on Monday until Tuesday.

Ukrainska Pravda reported that some members of Tymoshenko´s party disagreed with her, calling instead for her to acknowledge defeat, step down as prime minister and move into opposition.

Yanukovich, who won the election by a slender 2.9 percent margin with nearly all votes counted, has called on Tymoshenko to concede defeat.

Western observers declared the elections to be broadly free and fair and in line with democratic standards.