"If Alassane Ouattara were recognized as president elect by the African Union, the African Union would not send a panel of heads of state to evaluate the situation on the ground," added the minister named by Gbagbo.

He also insisted that each camp should provide enough efforts for a way out of the crisis without conflicts.

"We will continue with our efforts. We should not forget the declaration that the principal effort should come from the rivals themselves. In particular, the camp of prime minister Ouattara must understand that it concerns our country after all. If one counts solely on the outside to exercise their power on Cote d' Ivoire, he will never succeed," he said.

Gervais Jean Marie Kakou, minister of foreign affairs named by Alassane Ouattara, is also informally present at the gathering of African heads of state and government.

Cote d'Ivoire has been trapped in a political impasse since the landmark presidential run-off held on Nov. 28. Both Gbagbo and opposition leader Ouattara claimed victory and swore themselves in as president of the country, and formed their respective government.

Gbagbo was backed by the country's Constitutional Council, while Ouattara has the support of the electoral commission and the international community including the United Nations (UN), the African Union (AU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the United States and France.