Pakistan Peoples Party's leader Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday admitted that the Pakistan People's Party and the establishment had been in contact for the last eight years and said that the PPP would carry on with talks aimed at restoring democracy. Zardari, accompanied by around three dozen PPP leaders, addressed a crowded press conference at Bilawal House. Zardari, who had threatened to launch agitation against the government, softened his stand at the press conference, saying: "We don't want to take to the streets, though we can do it and the government also knows about it. We will hold dialogue with the establishment and at the same time motivate people and intellectuals," said Mr Zardari. He said the way the government had treated PPP activists indicated a conspiracy against the federation. "Our army is patriotic and does not want to break the country but a couple of insane people are damaging the federation by staying in power," he said. He said that the PPP's only demand was free and fair elections in 2005.