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Mubarak's game over, shout million Egyptians
Tens of thousands of Egyptians poured onto the streets of Cairo on Tuesday for an unprecedented rally seeking ouster of Hosni Mubarak, hours after the powerful military showed signs of distancing itself from the besieged President vowing that it would not fire on the protesters.
In a desperate bid to cling to power, 82-year-old Mubarak offered to open "immediate talks" with opposition groups.
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Mubarak's game over, shout million Egyptians
"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.
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."
Mubarak's game over, shout million Egyptians
Notwithstanding the offer, protesters, including students, teachers, farmers and women in headscarves, filled the Tahrir (Liberation) Square -- the hub of demonstrations against Mubarak's 30-year rule in the heart of Cairo -- in response to a call for a million people to rally against the regime.
Two effigies of Mubarak dangled from traffic signals at the Square as protesters demanded that the "murderous" president should be put on trial.
Mubarak's game over, shout million Egyptians
Amid heavy presence of military and armoured vehicles on the streets in downtown Cairo, protesters waved placards reading 'down with Mubarak' and 'Mubarak's game is over' in the largest demonstration yet in the 8-day uprising that has claimed over 150 lives.
However, the United Nations Human Rights Commissioner, citing unconfirmed reports, said in Geneva that as many as 300 people may have been killed in the revolt.
Mubarak's game over, shout million Egyptians
Undeterred by the large number of gun-totting security men, the protesters, in a "festival-like" atmosphere, sang and chanted slogans against Mubarak, 'Al-Jazeera' reported.
Identity cards of protesters were scrutinised by the army personnel before letting them into the Square, where the demonstrators offered 'namaz'.
Mubarak's game over, shout million Egyptians
Tens of thousands of anti-government protesters also converged in the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria, despite train services being cancelled and main roads closed by authorities in a bid to quell the protests.
Sensing strong public sentiments, the military made it clear that it would not crush the mass anti-government protests and said the protesters' demands were "legitimate," a sign that its support to Mubarak may be fading.