Footage of alleged vote-rigging has emerged from Zimbabwe's disputed Presidential run-off election. The material was reportedly filmed in secret by a Zimbabwean prison guard, and appears to show a supporter of President Robert Mugabe directing the votes of prison inmates. The footage has been delivered to British media organisations The Guardian and BBC. Meanwhile, Mugabe has ruled out the prospect of talks with his opponents to end Zimbabwe's political crisis, unless they acknowledge his victory. African leaders this week appealed for Zimbabwe's rival parties to negotiate a government of national unity. Mugabe insists that he won the election fairly, despite the withdrawal of opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, whose supporters were targeted with a campaign of violence.

Syrian security forces are reported to have shot dead a number of prisoners during a riot at a military jail near Damascus. The London-based group, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said in a statement that military police killed tens of inmates while putting down a riot over conditions. Syrian authorities have not confirmed the incident or responded to the report. Syria holds hundreds of Islamist militants and other political prisoners and International human rights groups often complain of random arrests and torture in Syrian jails.

Two days before the G-8 summit of leading industrial nations in Japan, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has proposed a comprehensive package of measures to combat rising food prices around the globe. Merkel said the measures would tackle both short-term food shortages and implement a long-term strategy to increase agricultural production worldwide. Meanwhile, in the run-up to the G-8 summit, about 100 protesters in Japan have demonstrated against rising food costs and demanded that more be done to combat climate change.

A key regional party in India has said it will back the government over a controversial nuclear energy agreement with the United States. The move would give the government a secure parliamentary majority for the nuclear deal, and eases concerns that the issue could trigger early elections. Communist parties claim the nuclear agreement would make India a pawn of Washington. Supporters say the pact will give India access to US nuclear technology and provide the country with more energy alternatives for economic development.

Washington's plans to build an anti-missile base on Polish territory have hit a set-back after Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that Washington was not offering sufficient recompense. Tusk told reporters that the installation of the so-called missile shield would create new dangers for his country and thus further talks were needed to agree on the level of US help in boosting Polish air defences. In Washington, the State Department said that negotiations with Poland would continue but no further details would be made public for the time being.

A man has ripped the head off a controversial wax figure of Adolf Hitler at the opening of Berlin's Madame Tussaud's museum. The 41-year-old attacked the figure, only minutes after the museum was opened, in protest at the display. The man reportedly called out “never again war” before eventually being arrested by police. The decision to portray the Nazi dictator among over 70 famous figures in German history has provoked controversy in Germany.

The 95th edition of the Tour de France got underway today, with a regular stage and no short prologue for the first time in 42 years. The world's premier bicycle race, wracked by doping scandals, also started without its defending champion. The 2007 winner, Alberto Contador of Spain, was not present because his Astana team was not invited due to doping charges. Just last week, American Floyd Landis was stripped of his 2006 title for using illegal substances. This year's no-name Tour began in Brittany with 180 riders from 20 teams and will arrive at the finish line in Paris on July 27th.

In Formula One motor racing, Finland's Heikki Kovalainen has won pole position ahead of Sunday's British Grand Prix. The McLaren driver finished over half a second faster than Red Bull's Mark Webber, of Australia. Ferrari world champion Kimi Raikkonen qualified third and Mclaren team mate Lewis Hamilton finished fourth. Brazil's championship leader, Felipe Massa, finished ninth.