Ukraine's Central Election Commission has rejected Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych's appeal of Sunday's presidential re-vote, saying there was no proof of voter fraud.

• INDEPTH: Ukraine

Yanukovych has refused to concede defeat in the Dec. 26 rerun of the presidential election, which opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko won by more than 2 million votes.

Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych Dec 29 (AP Photo)

On Thursday, the Central Election Commission said it was rejecting Yanukovych's appeal because "evidence submitted in the claim does not prove mass violations" and could not "influence or affect the results of the vote."

• FROM DEC. 30, 2004: Yanukovych says he won't resign as prime minister

Yanukovych has said he won't concede until he has exhausted all legal challenges to the result. His next step is to go to the Supreme Court.

Justices in that court nullified an earlier presidential runoff vote, held Nov. 21, because of widespread evidence of vote-rigging designed to help Yanukovych. The election commission had declared the pro-Russian prime minister the winner of that election.

Supporters of the pro-Western Yushchenko demonstrated in Kiev for weeks to demand a new vote.

On Wednesday, the followers of the "Orange Revolution" – so called for Yushchenko's campaign colour – blockaded the government compound in Kiev to prevent Yanukovych from holding a cabinet meeting.

Yanukovych's government lost a non-confidence vote earlier this month, and must resign within 60 days.