Violence rages in northern Sri Lanka

A weekend attack by Tiger rebels against army bases in northern Sri Lanka left at least 82 combatants from both sides of the conflict dead.

The destruction of the army bases Sunday came as Sri Lanka's main donor, Japan, was set to launch a new peace bid, the South African agency Independent Online reported.

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam said they captured armored vehicles and heavy weapons. They told sources they had killed at least 30 security workers in a five-hour gun battle.

The guerrilla fighters said they were planning to return the dead bodies of 16 government soldiers through the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Also during the weekend, Independent Online reported, two Red Cross workers were found shot to death in central Sri Lanka.

As battles continued in the Vavuniya and Mannar districts, Japan's special peace envoy to Sri Lanka, Yasushi Akashi, was set to head to the conflict zone during a visit beginning Tuesday, officials said.

Peace talks in Sri Lanka collapsed last year, and the conflict over claims on the island's land continues to take lives daily.