Manama, Bahrain (CNN) -- Security forces in Bahrain stormed the main hospital, beating doctors, and attacked demonstrators in Manama's Pearl Roundabout on Wednesday, witnesses in the Bahraini capital told CNN.
Demonstrators reported hearing a steady round of ammunition while thick smoke rose from the area. At least five helicopters whirred above the historic landmark, which has been a rallying spot for anti-government demonstrators in recent weeks.
Cell phone networks in several areas were disrupted. Security forced blocked highways leading to the capital, and formed a ring around the country's main hospital, Salmaniya Medical Complex -- not letting people enter or leave.
Security forces then stormed the hospital and beat staffers, several doctors there said.
Doctors have been hiding in rooms, said Yousif Sharaf, a doctor at the hospital.
"We are trapped," said Sharaf. "We are asking for the security forces to please stay outside the hospital. They are beating the staff".
Fatima Haji, another doctor, also said she was trapped in the hospital.
"We are in a small group hiding," said Haji, her voice rising with emotion. "This is a government hospital. How can this happen in a government hospital?"
Haji said two people had died in the hospital Wednesday morning and she feared for the other patients there because the doctors were not able to work.
CNN could not independently confirm the doctors' claims.
Officials at another private hospital, Salmany Hospital, also said they were being besieged by troops.
It was unclear if the attacks were carried out solely by Bahraini forces or included foreign troops who arrived in the country earlier in the week to help quell the demonstrations.
An Interior Ministry spokesman said on Bahrain state television that police forces and the national guard had cleared out all those at the Pearl Roundabout and that two policemen were killed when they were hit by a car. They made three arrests, the spokesman said.
A day earlier, security forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters in the southern city of Sitra.
At least two protesters were killed and at least 150 people were wounded, according to medical officials on the scene.
The protests started February 14 and are part of a series of demonstrations that have swept across the Arab world this year, toppling the leaders of Tunisia and Egypt.
In Bahrain, moderates have been demanding a constitutional monarchy, and hard-liners have called for the abolition of the countries' royal family altogether.
On Tuesday, Bahrain's King Hamad imposed a three-month state of emergency decree in the island nation.
The decree mandated that security forces should "take the measures and procedures necessary to preserve the safety of the nation and its people," a government statement said.
"King Hamad's decree does not give the authorities a blank check to commit abuses," said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch on Wednesday."The world is watching to see whether Bahrain will respect the basic rights of all its citizens".
On Monday, troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates arrived in Bahrain to "protect the safety of citizens," the Bahraini government said.
The troops arrived under the banner of the Gulf Cooperation Council, which comprises six Gulf states -- Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Qatar -- and encourages cooperation among members in a number of areas, including the economy and security. CNN
