Image copyright AFP Image caption Shukria Barakzai, pictured here in 2005, was lightly injured in the attack

A suicide bomber has targeted a prominent female Afghan politician, killing three civilians and wounding others in an attack on a Kabul convoy.

Shukria Barakzai, a women's rights advocate and ally of new President Ashraf Ghani, was lightly injured in the attack.

"[Ms Barakzai] is fine and suffers small injuries," Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi tweeted.

"Unfortunately three civilians martyred and around 17 injured," he added.

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Aftermath of the attack showed the extent of the blast

Ms Barakzai was travelling in a convoy containing other lawmakers on their way to parliament when a car tried to ram the politician's vehicle and the attacker detonated explosives, reports said.

Afghanistan is grappling with a vicious insurgency, led by the Taliban.

The latest incident comes a week after a suicide bomber entered the offices of Kabul's police chief in one of the most fortified areas of the capital and killed a senior officer.

Image copyright AFP Image caption The suicide bomber attacked a convoy of vehicles

Image copyright AFP Image caption The attack took place on a main road in the west of Kabul