The governing ANC had urged Mbeki to step down as president [EPA]

Mukoni Ratshitanga told 702 Talk Radio in Johannesburg, the commercial capital, on Saturday that Mbeki would convene a special government meeting the following day to decide the way forward.

"The president has accepted the decision of the ANC's national executive council," Ratshitanga said.

Mbeki, 66, who succeeded Nelson Mandela as president in June 1999, has been facing criticism over allegations that he was influential in pressing corruption charges against Jaco Zuma, the ANC leader and his political rival.

The ANC announced after two days of talks on Saturday that it was recalling Mbeki, who is just months away from completing his full-term term of office.

A court ruling, handed down on September 12, cleared Zuma of corruption charges, alleging that Mbeki's government had interfered in the decision to prosecute him, which Mbeki's cabinet has denied.

Speculation

After the ruling, there was intense speculation over whether the ANC would ask Mbeki to quit, push him out in a vote of no confidence or allow him to serve out his term of office.

Mbeki agreed that he was going to take part in the processs to remove him as president, Smith said quoting Mantashe.

The ANC appeared unable to reach a decision on the issue at a meeting on Friday and cancelled a news conference where officials had been scheduled to announce their decision.

"The debate is actually in the middle of nowhere. Everybody is expressing their view and then when we complete that debate and take a decision we will come and communicate with you," Mantashe said.

Mbeki challenged

After the ruling in Zuma's trial, the ANC youth league called for Mbeki to leave but the ANC as a whole reacted more cautiously, saying any decision would be by consensus and announced after its national executive committee had met over the weekend.

Half the cabinet is reportedly threatening to walk out if Mbeki is forced to leave.

Mbeki issued a statement on Friday saying: "It impoverishes our society that some resort to the tactic of advancing allegations with no fact to support these.

"The question will have to be answered now - what kind of society are we building, informed by what value system and with what long-term effect to the political and overall moral health of the nation?"

The dismissal of corruption charges against Zuma makes it possible for him to become South Africa's president after next year's election.

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