U.S. forces shot the 17-year-old son and another relative of the governor of northern Iraq's Salahuddin Province during a raid Sunday, local officials said.

The U.S. military said it had shot two armed men but later it was found both were related to the governor.

Governor Hamad al-Qaisi's brother, Lieutenant-Colonel Saad al-Qaisi, said U.S. troops stormed a house in the town of Beiji, where the governor's son Hussam and his cousin were staying.

"They shot dead Hussam and wounded three others. This is barbaric," Saad al-Qaisi said.

A U.S. military statement said its forces had wounded and captured an Al-Qaida financer in the house.

"As they entered the target building, coalition forces encountered two armed men. Perceiving hostile intent ... they shot and killed the men. It was subsequently determined that the two ... were related to the governor," the statement said.

Saad al-Qaisi denied the military's claim that the two young men were members of al Qaida in Iraq, saying it was highly unlikely any son of a provincial governor would be working for the Sunni militant group.

Local officials said Governor Hamad al-Qaisi had cut short a visit to Turkey because of the shooting.

"We demand an investigation into this incident," Deputy Governor Abdullah Jabara said.

(China Daily via agencies July 21, 2008)