Detroit  - Toyota Motor Co on Monday unveiled the third version of its best-selling hybrid car, the Prius, one day after Honda Motor Co launched a similar car it hopes can eat into Toyota's commanding share of the hybrid market.

The 2010 Prius, which Toyota says is more fuel-efficient than any other car on the market, was the highlight of this year's North American International Auto Show in Detroit, a toned-down affair as automakers leave behind one of their worst sales years in decades.

San Jose  - Rescue teams had found the bodies of 18 people killed in last week's earthquake in Costa Rica by Monday, while over 100 others who suffered injuries have been rescued.

The quake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale left a further 47 people missing, the Red Cross said Monday.

More than 1,300 people had to be taken to emergency accommodations in the area affected by the quake, 60 kilometres northwest of Costa Rican capital San Jose.

New York  - The United Nations on Monday appealed to the Israeli government to institute longer lulls in the fighting so more humanitarian assistance can be provided to the population in Gaza Strip.

The Israeli Defense Forces repeated a three-hour lull on Monday to allow dozens of trucks carrying relief supplies to enter Gaza. But John Holmes, the coordinator for UN humanitarian operations, said the lull should last 24 hours and be renewed.

"The three-hour lulls have continued but they are far from satisfactory," Holmes said at UN headquarters in New York. "The time has changed and in some occasions have caused confusion for aid agencies and the population, of course."

Beirut  - Lebanese Defense Minister Elias Murr said Monday material confiscated from a garbage truck near a UNIFIL post in the southern town is a "non-explosive material."

"After examining the material which were disovered in a carbage truck trying to enter a UNIFIL base in southern Lebanon the tests showed they contain no explosive material," Murr said as he entered a cabinet session.

He added the Lebanese security forces have released the suspects arrested in connection with the incident.

Berlin  - The crown prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, voiced Arab anger over the Gaza crisis on Monday in Berlin to Chancellor Angela Merkel and other German officials.

Merkel's spokesman Ulrich Wilhelm said she and the crown prince had "an extensive discussion." Both had been "very concerned" at the continuing fighting between Hamas and Israel and the humanitarian crisis.

Prague - Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek said Monday he is to replace four ministers in his three-party center-right cabinet as the country holds the six-month rotating EU presidency.

Next to Vice-Premier Jiri Cunek, who announced his resignation earlier Monday, Topolanek sacked Minority Minister Dzamila Stehlikova, Transport Minister Ales Rebicek and Health Minister Tomas Julinek.

Cunek's resignation earlier in the day unblocked Topolanek's plans to overhaul the government.