At least two people are believed to have been injured in the incident.

The guards were apparently acting in response to an attack on the Alay Hotel by a group of protesters, many of whom were wielding metal bars.

The violence comes after a senior politician was shot dead in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek on Friday.

There have been several violent incidents in Kyrgyzstan since former President Askar Akayev was ousted from power during popular protests in March.

Fresh presidential elections are due to be held in the Central Asian nation next month.

The hotel security guards are said to have fired automatic weapons at the protesters outside the Alay Hotel.

Eyewitnesses said the demonstrators were protesting against the actions of a local politician, Bayaman Erkinbayev, whom they say has a heavy influence on small businesses in the region.

Bayaman Erkinbayev has many potential enemies

In April, Mr Erkinbayev escaped what he termed an attempt on his life, when he was shot and wounded in the face in Bishkek.

It is unclear whether the motivation for that attack was political - at the time, he had announced plans to run for president - or linked to his business interests.

In recent months many protests of one sort or another have been organised by groups with political or economic complaints, according to BBC correspondent Ian MacWilliam.

Protesters claim the interim government is not addressing their concerns, our correspondent says.