Embattled President Hosni Mubarak 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."