Tripoli, Libya (BuzzTab) – Earlier today on Sunday June 19, 2011, NATO forces were accused by the Libyan government of bombing a residential neighborhood in the capital and killing dozens of civilians.

According to Libyan media, the alliance attacked nonmilitary targets, killing at least four local residents, including two children. It was not immediately possible to exclusively verify the government’s account of airstrikes, but NATO – who repeatedly insisted it tries hard to avoid killing civilians – has now responded to the claim, saying it is investigating.

In the early hours of the morning, Government officials rushed all the journalists based in the Libyan capital to the destroyed building, which appeared to have been partially under construction.

Moussa Ibrahim – the Government spokesman – was not immediately able to provide the accurate figure of casualties. However, he said there were no military facilities anywhere near the damaged building.

Journalists, who were first rushed to the scene and later taken to a hospital, were shown at least four people said to be killed in the strike, including the two young kids. Government minders are continuously shadowing foreign journalists in Tripoli, since they are not allowed to travel and report freely.

“There was intentional and deliberate targeting of the civilian houses. This is another sign of the brutality of the West,” said deputy foreign minister Khaled Kaim during a visit to the site shortly after reporters arrived.

Nevertheless, regardless of the fact if the government’s claims are confirmed accurate or just bogus stories, the allegations are likely to give Moammar Gadhafi’s regime a fresh rallying point against the international intervention into Libya’s civil war.