Authorities in southern Afghanistan say a suicide car bomber has killed at five people, including a local district chief.

Provincial officials say the governor of Kandahar province's Panjwayi district was traveling in his car with his two sons when the bomber rammed a vehicle full of explosives into them. All three were killed in Thursday's blast.

Two of the district governor's guards were also killed in the explosion near Kandahar city.

Officials say nine police officers and a civilian were wounded.

On Wednesday, Kandahar's police chief escaped unharmed after a suicide bombing outside his office in Kandahar city.

There has been no claim of responsibility for either attack.