It started with what Iranians thought was a democratic election and has turned into violent protests, casualties and a lingering question: Who really won Iran’s election?

“Iranian officials admit there was voter fraud in the Presidential election…” (FOX News)

“A stunning admission from Iran’s election authority, it could signal some cracks at the very highest level of government. State-run media is saying that Iran’s Guardian Council now admits that the number of ballots cast exceeds the number of eligible voters in 50 Iranian cities.” (CNN)

Iran’s state-funded Press TV and IRIB reported Sunday that Iran’s Guardian Council has found voting irregularities. So does that mean Ahmadinejad rigged the votes and his rival Mir-Hossein Mousavi actually won?

Press TV says no with this take on the larger than 100% turnout.

“…voter turnout of above 100% in some cities is a normal phenomenon because there is no legal limitation for people to vote for the presidential elections in another city or province to which people often travel or commute.”

Iran’s Press TV adds that the irregularities only account for 3 million votes, insignificant providing Ahmadinejad won more than 24 million votes to Mousavi’s 13 million.

The Daily Kos attacks western journalists for throwing quote “fairness and objectivity” to the dogs, also taking the perspective its possible Ahmadinejad legitimately won.

“How can one conclusively say the election was rigged just because those who have been declared losers say so and there has been no due process to make such a determination?”
“There is a rural majority who tend to be traditional and to whom government’s policies mostly benefit and as such, they support the government.”

But The Nation blogger Robert Dreyfuss refutes the argument that Ahmadinejad could have won with Iran’s silent rural majority.

“…rural voters do not support Ahmadinejad, contrary to the oft-repeated myth in the media and among many analysts. In 2005, for instance, the [Chatham House report] shows a perfect correlation: the more rural the province, the lower Ahmadinejad's vote in 2005.”

ITN elaborates on the Ayotallah’s point of view that the result is final, Ahmadinehad is our president and disputing the outcome with protests is a waste of time.

“Yesterday the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei issued this stark warning - I’m urging them to end street protests otherwise they will be responsible for its consequences and consequences of any chaos. The result of election comes out at the ballot boxes, not on the streets."

For additional reads, please check out:
The Times (UK)
The New York Times