US troops have shot dead the son and nephew of Hamid Hummud al-Shakti, the governor of Iraq's northern Salaheddin province.

The deaths of Husam, the 17-year-old son, and Uday, the nephew, occurred during a raid on Sunday in the town of Baiji, police said.

The US military said that they had shot two armed men who were related to al-Shakti.

They also said that they had wounded and captured an al-Qaeda financier in the house.

A military statement said: "When the force entered the target buildings, they encountered two armed men. Perceiving hostile intent, coalition forces engaged and killed them.

"It was subsequently determined that the two armed men killed in the incident were related to the governor of Salaheddin province."

'Barbaric and inhuman'

Lieutenant-Colonel Saad al-Qaisi, al-Shakti's brother, said American troops stormed a family house in the town of Beiji, where the governor's son Husam and his cousin were staying.

He said: "They shot dead Husam and wounded three others. This is barbaric and inhuman."

Al-Shakti cut short a visit to Turkey because of the shooting, local officials said.

Abdullah Jabara, the deputy governor, said: "We demand an investigation into this incident."