Three civilians were killed and five others were wounded in a suicide attack in western Afghanistan, officials said on Saturday.
The attack took place in Zaranj city, the capital of western Nimroz province on Friday night, when a bomber, who was under police pursuit, detonated explosives he had strapped around his body, said Ahmad Khan, a senior provincial police official, reported dpa.
"The bomber exploded himself before our police forces could arrest him," Khan said, adding, "Two children and a labourer were killed, and three women and two men were wounded."
Taliban spokesman, Qari Mohammad Yousif Ahmadi, claimed responsibility for the attack, saying the bomber targeted the provincial intelligence chief's convoy in the city.
"A number of security officials were killed and wounded in the attack," Ahmadi claimed.
Security officials in Nimroz province rejected Taliban's claim regarding the deaths of security personnel.
Taliban militants who lost power in late 2001 following the US-led invasion have recently largely relied on the use of suicide- and roadside attacks, both tactics believed to have been copied from Iraqi insurgents.