Kabul - Four suicide bombers equipped with automatic rifles attacked a provincial council office in southern Afghanistan on Wednesday, killing one policeman and seven civilians, an interior ministry spokesman said.

One attacker detonated his explosive-laden vehicle in front of the provincial council office in southern Kandahar city, capital of the Kandahar province, Wednesday morning. A policeman guarding the compound died, spokesman Zemarai Bashary said.

"Three bombers went inside the building and opened fire on civilians inside the compound, killing seven of them," he said, adding that police arrived at the scene and engaged the attackers.

"Two of the bombers were shot dead by our police forces before they could detonate their explosives, but the third bomber detonated himself and the blast only killed the bomber," Bashary said.

Members of the provincial council were holding a meeting with local elders when the attack took place, but according to Bashary there were no casualties among the local lawmakers. (dpa)