(AhlulBayt News Agency) - The live-fire confrontation came as protestors took over several government buildings in major cities across Egypt on Friday.
Reports say protesters have also clashed with security forces and attacked police stations in El-Arish -- a move some believe was in response to the vigilantes opening fire on protesters.
Millions of protesters in various cities across Egypt are calling on President Hosni Mubarak to step down.
A large number of Egyptians have surrounded the Presidential Palace and the state Radio and Television building in Cairo as the Mubarak regime dispatches scores of vigilantes to attack pro-democracy protesters.
According to a Press TV correspondent, the republican guards have been deployed around the palace with snipers positioned on the rooftop of the building.
The measure was taken after protesters began gathering outside the presidential palace following the Friday Prayers.
This is while, a huge crowd of pro-democracy protesters have already gathered in Cairo's Liberation Square.
Reports say protesters have marched to the US Embassy, which is under tight security. The families of US diplomats have already been evacuated from Cairo.
Aside from Cairo, Alexandria and the port city of Suez have also been the scene of large protests since the country's pro-democracy rallies began 18 days ago.
Suez has also seen some of the most violent clashes in the same timescale.
Police have used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse protestors.
More than one million pro-democracy protesters have taken to the streets of Alexandria. Protests have also broken out in Mansura, Port Said and Beni Suef.
Embattled Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who once again defied calls to step down in a late Thursday night television address, has stepped up the crackdown on peaceful protesters across the country.
World leaders have reacted to President Mubarak's refusal to relinquish power with the United Nations repeating its call for a transparent, orderly and peaceful transition of power in the country.
UN says at least 300 people have been killed and thousands of others injured during the pro-democracy protests in Egypt.
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