Colombo: The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has expanded its delegation for the second round of peace talks with the Sri Lankan government to be held in Thailand later this month and inducted a key military leader and the head of its political wing.

Political wing head S P Thamilselvan and special commander for the Eastern Batticaloa-Ampara districts "Colonel" Karuna would join the present four-member team in Thailand, London-based 'Tamil Guardian' weekly newspaper reported in its latest edition.

Chief negotiator Anton Balasingham, his wife and secretary to the delegation, Adele Anne, V Rudrakumar, an expatriate attorney who represents the Tiger rebels abroad, and Jay Maheswaran, a rehabilitation and development expert, are the other members of the team.

The members of the team, including Karuna and Thamilselvan, who normally do not venture out of LTTE-held areas in the North and East, would travel to Thailand via Colombo, the newspaper said.

The first round of talks was held between September 16 and 18 at Sattahip, a Naval base, but there are indications that the second round could be held at a venue closer to Bangkok.

The second round is expected to focus on the modalities for establishing a joint task force, comprising representatives of the government and the LTTE, which will supervise rehabilitation and reconstruction work in the former battle zone in the North East.

PTI