July 21, 2009 (DVB), Burma's opposition National League for Democracy party is planning to expand its central women's working group following recent changes to other core sections of the party.

Last week the National League for Democracy (NLD) reorganised its information committee and appointed new public relations staff. The move followed the recent expansion of its central youth wing.

Now the group is in talks over the possible expansion of its women's group, although it has said that work delegation, and not the looming 2010 elections, is the reason.

"We invited party members from other states and divisions to the discussion which started today and it will last for five days," said Dr Win Naing, NLD information official.

"We are forming an assist group for the central women's work group as some of its members have been in poor health and some have passed away.

The expansion plan is being organised by Dr May Win Myint, a former political prisoner and 1990 elected people's parliament representative.

The NLD began carrying out expansion works after senior member Win Tin recently urged the party to strengthen itself with more members and accommodate more input from the public.

"I urged them work on politics that are more face-to-face with the public," he said.

"We should expand as much as we can and we need to be able to talk with the people, we need to reach to them, and we need to be able to work with them."

Reporting by Htet Aung Kyaw