Originally posted by the Voice of America. Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America, a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in the public domain. Bahrain's Security Forces Drive Out Protesters from Downtown Square VOA News February 17, 2011 Bahraini riot police firing tear gas and wielding clubs storm Pearl Square, occupied by anti-government protesters, February 17, 2011 Photo: AP Bahraini riot police firing tear gas and wielding clubs storm Pearl Square, occupied by anti-government protesters, February 17, 2011 Bahrain's military says it has taken control of parts of the capital after riot police stormed a main square in Manama early Thursday to drive out thousands of demonstrators. Western news reports quote the country's health minister as saying three people were killed and 231 wounded in the police operation to clear Pearl Square. There are reports that many protesters are missing. In a Thursday news conference, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the reports from Bahrain were "deeply troubling." He said violence should not be used on peaceful demonstrators. Meanwhile, U.S. officials say Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called her Bahraini counterpart, Sheikh Khaled bin Ahmad al-Khalifa Thursday and expressed "deep concern" about the crackdown. Earlier this week, protesters demanding sweeping political change had set up camp in Pearl Square. On Thursday, security forces firing tear gas, percussion grenades and rubber bullets moved into the square before dawn against the mostly Shi'ite demonstrators. Meanwhile, news reports quote a leader Ali Salman of al-Wefaq, the country's leading Shi'ite opposition group, as saying opposition groups are demanding the government's resignation. Earlier Thursday, al-Wefaq lawmakers said they plan to quit parliament in protest. The group's 18 deputies in the 40-member legislature had already vowed not to return to parliament until King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa agreed to transform the nation into a constitutional democracy with an elected government. On Wednesday, security forces stayed back as tens of thousands of Bahrainis gathered, dramatically expanding the protests. By nightfall, a massive, jubilant crowd had swelled in Pearl Square. Earlier, hundreds had joined a procession to mourn one of two demonstrators killed since Monday. The Khalifa family, which has ruled Bahrain since the 18th century, is Sunni Muslim and has long had tense relations with the country's Shi'ite majority, about 70 percent of the population. In 2001, voters overwhelmingly approved a national charter to lead the way toward democratic changes. But a year later, the king imposed a constitution by decree that Shi'ite leaders say has diluted the rights in the charter and blocked them from achieving a majority in the parliament. Bahrain is home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet and also is a regional offshore banking center. Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters. .