Egypt army refuses to open fire, Mubarak goes runnning to oppn
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Rania, Cairo: Embattled President Hosni Mubarak today offered to open 'immediate talks' with opposition groups as pressure on him mounted from the powerful military which termed peoples' demands as 'legitimate' and said it will not fire on protesters.
The offer came as tens of thousands of Egyptians started converging at the Tahrir Square - the hub of the anti-government demonstrations in the heart of Cairo - for their 'million man march' to force 82-year-old Mubarak to step down.
"President Hosni Mubarak has tasked me with opening immediate talks with the political forces to begin a dialogue around all the issues concerning constitutional and legislative reforms," newly appointed Vice President Omar Suleiman said on state television.
He said steps were underway to implement decisions of the appeals court contesting results of autumn legislative elections in certain constituencies, Al Arabia reported.
Suleiman also said the government would move to 'deal as soon as possible with the priorities of fighting unemployment, poverty, corruption and reach the required balance between wages and prices'.
Amid heavy presence of military and armoured vehicles on the streets in downtown Cairo, protesters waving placards reading 'down with Mubarak', 'Mubarak's game is over' spilled on the Tahrir Square.
Identity cards of protesters were scrutinized by the army personnel before letting them into the square. Sensing the strong public sentiments, the military made it clear that it was not out to crush today's mass anti-government protests and said their demands were 'legitimate'.
"To the great people of Egypt, your armed forces, acknowledging the legitimate rights of the people ... have not and will not use force against the Egyptian people," the military said in a statement on state tv.
"Your armed forces, who are aware of the legitimacy of your demands and are keen to assume their responsibility in protecting the nation and the citizens, affirms that freedom of expression through peaceful means is guaranteed to everybody," the army statement said.
Facing the first serious challenge to his 30-year-rule, Mubarak has been hoping for the military backing to stem the tide against him. In a desperate move to cling to power, Mubarak last night sacked his much-hated interior minister in a revamped cabinet and appointed a new intelligence chief to mollify opposition groups, but the protesters remained unmoved and stated that they would accept nothing less than his departure.
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