A suicide bomber targeted the convoy of a northern Afghanistan provincial intelligence chief early Monday, killing a young boy and wounding at least four others, including the official.

Local police said the attacker blew himself up as Sayed Ahmad Sadat, the chief of National Directorate of Security in Faryab province, was on his way to work in the provincial capital, Maimanah.

In western Farah province, authorities said the Taliban killed five Afghan soldiers over the weekend. Three other soldiers were wounded in the ambush.

Meanwhile, the office of Afghan President Hamid Karzai said Monday the president has asked NATO to explain the death of three family members of former senator Sami Jan Sherzad, killed early Sunday in central Wardak province.

The presidential office said two women were among the dead and two other members of Sherzad's family were detained during the operation.