The future of Scotland's government remained unclear after Labour leader Jack McConnell branded the Scottish Nationalist Party's victorious claims "highly premature".
SNP leader Alex Salmond said earlier that Labour had lost the "moral authority to govern" as the Nationalists claimed most seats in the election and the highest vote share. It emerged the SNP had taken 47 seats as the results came in, against Labour's 46.
A Nationalist-dominated rainbow coalition, along with the Liberal Democrats' 16 seats and the Greens' two seats, is now possible. It would result in a majority of just one - with 65 seats - in the 129 seat Parliament. But the Labour leader has warned that no party has an overall majority.
"While I recognise that the SNP are the largest party by the narrowest of margins, Alex Salmond must himself recognise that he does not have a majority in the Scottish Parliament or anywhere near a majority of the vote," he said.
"There is no moral authority to pursue separation and moral authority in the Parliament will only come through different parties working together in the majority. Any attempt to suggest otherwise is, at this stage, highly premature."
But Mr Salmond earlier told triumphant supporters in a victory address in Edinburgh that he is confident he can build a ruling coalition.
"It's going to take some time, it's going to take some effort, but let me pledge that my approach to that will be one of goodwill. I think there is a progressive coalition available that wants to take Scotland forward and the SNP's responsibility is to build that coalition."
The issue of a referendum on independence remains an obstacle to any deal between the Lib Dems and the SNP. The Nationalists have pledged to hold one in 2010, but Nicol Stephen's party has ruled one out - even a multi-option referendum including a question on its policy of more powers for Holyrood.
However, Mr Salmond held out an olive branch to possible coalition partners.
Speaking on the BBC, he said: "Let's give the people, perhaps people who haven't done as well as we have in this election, time and space to have a think about this because I'm sure everybody wants to respond to the message of the electorate. I'm certainly prepared to do that, I think others will do as well."