LAHORE, Dec 27: PPP leader Asif Zardari predicts general election in September next and return of party chairperson Benazir Bhutto before it.

"Contrary to statements of rulers I am seeing elections in September 2005 while there is no chance of holding local body polls," the husband of Ms Bhutto told Dawn over phone here on Monday.

He claimed that the party chairperson would end her exile and return home before the polls in September. Answering a question, he said through reconciliation talks they were demanding free and fair elections and not seeking power.

Asked if the Islamabad airport incident had hampered the reconciliation process, he said if so, the rulers and not he was responsible for it. Replying to a query, he said he would soon come to Lahore as the government could not bar him from staying away from masses for long.