Sunday's election was called early in an attempt to end a standoff between Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych and President Viktor Yushchenko and shake sense into the ex-Soviet nation's politics after years of infighting.

With results from 55 percent of polling stations counted, the bloc led by fiery Orange Revolution heroine Yulia Tymoshenko had about 33 percent of the vote, followed closely by Yanukovych's party with 30 percent and Yushchenko's bloc a distant third with about 16 percent, according to the Central Election Commission.

The Communists were tallying 5 percent, followed by the party led by former parliament speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn with 4 percent and the Socialists just above the 3-percent threshold for getting into parliament.

If the parties of Tymoshenko and Yushchenko come through on their pledge to cooperate, they would together have the majority of seats needed to form a government.

Tymoshenko, smiling triumphantly after exit polls were announced late Sunday, said she would meet with Yushchenko on Monday to quickly formalize an alliance. Their coalition could mend a rift in Orange Revolution forces that had thrown the nation into political turmoil.

"In one or two days we will announce the coalition," Tymoshenko told reporters.

Yanukovych draws his support from the Russian-speaking east and south and is considered more Russia-friendly, though he has increasingly underlined his push for Ukraine's integration into Europe.

About 63 percent of the 37.5 million eligible voters cast ballots, according to official results.

The vote will either boost Ukraine's hopes to integrate more closely into Europe or stir more infighting. Forging a coalition with Tymoshenko could take weeks of bargaining, and Yanukovych is unlikely to give up power easily.

Yuriy Lutsenko, the leader of Yushchenko's party, said it was ready to back Tymoshenko as prime minister after the coalition is formed.

Tymoshenko, clad in immaculate white, pledged that the new government would push strongly for Ukraine to integrate more closely into Europe and quickly join the World Trade Organization.

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