The Libyan government has accused NATO of bombing civilian targets in Zlitan, a western town that has been the scene of recent clashes between pro-government and rebel forces.

The government made the accusations through its state-controlled television station on Thursday, a day after officials denied rebel claims that opposition fighters had gained control of the town.

The French News Agency reports that Libyan officials led journalists on a tour of Zlitan Thursday, showing them a home where they said three family members were killed by a NATO airstrike.

In a separate development, a Libyan tanker arrived in Benghazi after rebels claimed they had seized the vessel from government forces.

NATO officials say they cleared the ship on Wednesday and allowed it to proceed to the rebel-held port.

NATO is operating under a U.N. mandate that calls for it to take measures other than occupation to protect civilians and civilian areas from attacks by leader Moammar Gadhafi's forces.