A suicide attacker is believed to have targeted a prominent Afghan politician just as Nato formally handed over command of security to Afghan forces.

The bomb struck in west Kabul near the convoy of Haji Mohammad Mohaqiq, a leader of the Hazara ethnic minority and a former vice president.

Mr Mohaqiq was unhurt, but three people were killed and more than 20 injured – including four of his guards.

Nato forces are handing over control of the last 95 districts.

Mr Mohaqiq said four of his guards were wounded in the attack, which happened near the Independent Human Rights Commission office as he was being driven towards parliament.

“I heard a big explosion on the side of the car,” he told the AFP news agency. “Only my cloak is a little burned, other than that I’m fine.”

The lawmaker said he had received threats before the attack.

“The intelligence agency was sending letters that I should be careful,” he said. “There was a threat against me. I was rarely going to the parliament.”

The attack came just before a ceremony – attended by President Hamid Karzai and Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen – to hand over security for the whole of Afghanistan for the first time since the Taliban were ousted in 2001…

[ Full story on BBC ]