The governor of Afghanistan's southeastern province of Khost survived an assassination attempt today when a suicide car bomber struck his convoy, witnesses and officials said.
At least three of governor Arsala Jamal's bodyguards were killed in the attack, which occurred close to a base for Western troops just outside Khost town, they said.
Minutes after the attack, Jamal said he was fine.
"The attack was against my convoy. I am fine, but I see some people in flames in cars ahead of me."
Khost lies near the border with Pakistan and has suffered a spate of attacks in recent months.
Militants also fired a rocket on a NATO military base in the eastern province of Nuristan on Wednesday, killing two Afghan soldiers and wounding 11 US soldiers, a provincial official said.
Hours later, a NATO convoy was attacked in a rare raid in the relatively peaceful western province of Herat destroying a vehicle, a provincial official said, but he did not know if there were any casualties. A NATO official confirmed the incident, but also had no information on casualties.
Violence has surged in the past 19 months in Afghanistan, the bloodiest period since US-led troops overthrew the Taliban in 2001.
Copying Iraqi insurgents' tactics, the Taliban largely rely on suicide attacks and roadside bombs as part of their campaign against the Afghan government and foreign troops.