[Updated, 4:26 p.m.] Officials now say at least three people were killed in the blast. Four others were wounded, officials said.

Zalmai Ayoubi, spokesman for the Kandahar government, said three children were killed by the blast, and two police and two civilians were slightly wounded.

A spokesman for the Taliban, which claimed responsibility for the bombing, said 11 people were killed in the explosion.

"Today's donkey cart bomb explosion was on foreign forces, which killed 11 foreigners and four were injured," Taliban spokesman Qari Yousuf Ahmadi said.

Ahmadi said the bombing was in response to the planned U.S.-led offensive to oust Taliban fighters from the volatile Kandahar region this summer.

"Our message in this is to tell them we are present here and now we are showing our power, too," Ahmadi said.

[Published, 11:46 a.m.]

A donkey covered with explosives and carrying a remote control detonator blew up at a police post Monday in the city of Kandahar, killing a boy and wounding four other people, officials said.

Zalmai Ayoubi, spokesman for the Kandahar government, said a young boy was killed by the blast and two police and two civilians were slightly injured.

The attack took place at the Fazladding Agha escort post of the Afghan National Police in Kandahar, said Mohammad Shah Khan, assistant police chief.