NEW YORK, Sept 19: A luncheon hosted by American businessmen and investors at a swank restaurant for President Musharraf had surprise visitors — the King and Queen of Jordan, accompanied by former US president Bill Clinton, in a warm gesture to the Pakistani leader.

Towards the end of the function, the three walked to the president in the dining room amid cheers from the gathering. They went straight towards him and warmly shook hands with him.

Mr Clinton was in the same restaurant hosting a lunch for Jordan’s King Abdullah and his wife. They said upon learning that President Musharraf was at the same place, they decided to meet him.

After an exchange of pleasantries, Clinton turned to the audience and said that President Musharraf was playing ‘a strong hand,’ in an obvious reference to Pakistan’s pivotal role in the war on terror. King Abdullah joined him and said that President Musharraf was an “outstanding leader”.

“It was a pleasant surprise,” President Musharraf said after the visitors left the room.