US troops kill son of Iraqi governor

From correspondents in Baghdad

July 20, 2008 11:29pm

US forces shot dead the 17-year-old son and another relative of the governor of northern Iraq's Salahuddin province in a raid today, local officials said.

The US military said it shot two armed men and later found out they were both related to the governor.

Governor Hamad al-Qaisi's brother, Lieutenant-Colonel Saad al-Qaisi, said American troops stormed a family 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 and inhuman," he said.

A statement from the US military said its forces had wounded and captured an al-Qaeda 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.

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