Afghan governor survives suicide raid, 3 hurt

KHOST, Afghanistan, Oct 24 (Reuters) The governor of Afghanistan's southeastern province of Khost today survived a suicide attack on his convoy, officials said.

Three people, including a bodyguard of governor Arsala Jamal, were wounded in the raid which happened on a road in a district of the province close to the border with Pakistan.

Minutes after the attack, Jamal said he had escaped unhurt.

''I was in another car of mine. The car bomber hit a vehicle ahead of me. I am fine,'' he told Reuters.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but Taliban insurgents often use suicide raids and roadside bomb attacks as part of their campaign against Afghan officials and Western troops based in the country.

Violence has sharply increased in the past two years in Afghanistan, the bloodiest time since the Taliban's removal from power in 2001.

More than 7,000 people have been killed during the period.

REUTERS SG KN2117