A roadside bomb struck a police van in the Taliban birthplace of Kandahar in south Afghanistan Sunday morning, killing at least three persons including a police constable and two civilians, an official said.

"A roadside bomb organized by militants struck a police vehicle, killing a police constable and two innocent civilians including a woman," Hajji Shah Baran, the governor of Panjwai district told Xinhua.

The incident took place on a road in Panjwai district at 08:30 a.m., a morning rush hour when several cars were moving on the busy road.

Eleven civilians including passersby and occupants of some cars sustained injuries in the blast, the official further said.

There are six children among those injured in the attack, Baran further added.

A civilian car was also damaged in the blast, the official stressed.

The official also put the attack on the enemies of peace, a term used against Taliban militants but the outfit has yet to make comment.

Taliban militants have vowed to intensify their activities this year in Afghanistan.

Both Taliban and NATO-led forces have been muscling since early this year as the troops are getting ready to launch a massive operation in the Taliban birthplace to ensure lasting peace there.

The planned operation is said to be kicked off in near future.