Smoke is seen rising from a police vehicle after Sunday's explosion. (Allauddin Khan/Associated Press)A bomb hidden in a wooden cart exploded in Afghanistan's largest southern city Sunday, killing three police officers and wounding 11 other people, a government official said.

The attack targeted a police vehicle in the city of Kandahar, said Zalmai Ayubi, a spokesman for the governor.

He said five police officers were among the 11 wounded.

Insurgents frequently target Afghan police, who have less training and equipment than the country's army.

Violence has risen steadily in Afghanistan over the last two years.

The latest explosion happened 14 kilometres from where three Canadian soldiers were killed Saturday when the armoured vehicle they were travelling in struck a roadside bomb.

On Friday morning, three British Marines died in an explosion in Afghanistan's Helmand province.

British military officials have accused the Taliban of using a child suicide bomber to carry out the attack.

With files from the Associated Press