Kabul- A suicide bomber was killed Friday by police before he could reach an Afghan minister's home in western Afghanistan, but a second bomber detonated his explosives nearby, killing three civilians and wounding 16, a provincial governor said.

An armed bomber, who disguised himself in police uniform, was shot to death by police guards as he was trying to enter the home of Abdul Karim Bahrawi, refugee minister, in Zaranj, the provincial capital of Nimruz province, Governor Gholam Dastagir said.

"He detonated his explosive-filled vest after being shot several times by the guards," Azaad said, adding that the bomber was the only victim in the initial blast.

Moments later, another bomber, who covered himself in a women's veil, detonated himself near a mosque close to the minister's house, killing three people.

The minister was inside his home and was unhurt, the governor said.

No group immediately took responsibility for Friday's bombings.

Recently, Taliban militants, who were driven from power in a US-led military invasion in late 2001, have relied heavily on suicide and roadside bombings as part of their campaign against the Western-backed Afghan government and about 70,000 international forces in the country.

The militants were responsible for more than 120 suicide bombings last year. (dpa)