NEW YORK, Feb 5: Former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and Federal Information Minister Shaikh Rashid on Thursday exchanged pleasantries at the national prayer breakfast meeting in Washington addressed by US President George Bush, a Pakistan embassy spokesperson said.

Although neither of the two leaders were able to meet President Bush, but they were able to talk to each other at the sidelines of the breakfast, the spokesperson said.

Asked to elaborate on the Bhutto-Shaikh meeting, the spokesperson said: "They met in an atmosphere of goodwill and understanding."