The high profile meeting, set to be co-chaired by host leader Jacques Chirac, United Nations (UN) secretary-general Kofi Annan and Mr Mbeki, would seek to end the four- month conflict in the French-speaking nation between rival fractions, rebels and government forces.
Foreign affairs minister and AU executive council chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma will accompany President Mbeki to the talks.
The weekend presidential gathering comes amid reports that the Ivorian government, political opposition groups and representatives of the three rebel groups, struck an agreement of the future of the Ivorian nation.
The parties have been holding talks near Paris since last week aimed at finding a solution to the protracted conflict in the world's leading cocoa producer.
Delegates had been discussing critical issues of Ivorian nationality and land ownership, and eligibility rules for presidential candidacy.
It is believed that the parties agreed early today to a French-brokered draft peace plan, calling for a new government of national unity and reconciliation to include all political parties and representatives from the three rebel factions.
The new authority would be led by a prime minister to be chosen by wide consensus.
Opposition parties and rebel groups have been calling for President Laurent Gbagbo step down, with some accusing him of having been elected in flawed elections.
The Ivorian bloody conflict began in September with a failed coup attempt against President Gbagbo.
Hundreds of people have since been killed and more than 600 000 displaced.
According to unconfirmed reports, the accord made provision for the disarmament of rebel forces under French supervision, a restructuring of the army and requiring candidates for president to be of Ivorian origin, with a least one Ivorian parent.
It is however believed that the weekend presidential meeting would witness the signing of the peace pact that would culminate in the end of the four-month-old conflict.
The UN estimated on Tuesday that the fighting had driven more than 1.1 million people from their homes in the country's interior.
Another 23 000 Ivorians and 120 000 foreign residents have fled to neighboring countries since the conflict began. – BuaNews
EMAIL THIS ARTICLE SAVE THIS ARTICLE FEEDBACK
To subscribe email subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za or click here
To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here
