NATO warships hit a Red Crescent Society building when they shelled the rebel-controlled city of Misrata on Friday, Libyan state television reported.

"Barbaric naval NATO shelling targets Red Crescent centres in Misrata," al-Libiya television said in a caption. It gave no further details.

Al-Libiya earlier reported said that warships had hit western parts of Misrata and the outskirts of the nearby town of Zlitan on Friday.

A NATO official said the only incident he was aware of involving NATO warships in the area involved NATO ships exchanging fire with government forces ashore on Thursday after moving to intercept an attack on Misrata by small boats.

Reuters