Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf asserted May 11 that former prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif would not be allowed to return from exile to contest the 2007 general election.

Musharraf was addressing a meeting of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Q party leaders in Sargodha, Punjab.

He rejected Bhutto's Pakistan Peoples Party demand to hold a mid-term election this year.

Musharraf appealed to moderate groups in the country to unite to defeat extremist forces.

Musharraf apparently wants the support of the PPP and PML-N, both mainstream parties, without their leaders.

Two days ago, Musharraf said in Lahore that he was in touch with Bhutto for political reconciliation.

Senior PPP leader Amin Fahim said Bhutto has convened a meeting of top leaders in July in London to discuss the outcome of the contact between her and Musharraf.

Bhutto lives in self-exile in London and Dubai, while Sharif's family has been exiled to Jeddah.