Kabul- A suicide bomber attacked a convoy of Afghan army forces in western Afghanistan, killing himself and wounding a soldier and three civilians, while a suspected senior Taliban commander was arrested by NATO forces in the southern region, officials said Sunday.

The bomber rammed his explosive-laden motorbike into a convoy of Afghan national army forces in Guzara district of western Herat province on Sunday afternoon, said, Abdul Raouf Ahmadi, spokesman for police in western region.

He said the bomber died in the blast, while one soldier and three civilian passers-by were wounded.

Meanwhile, a suspected senior Taliban commander was arrested by NATO forces in Trin Kot district of southern Uruzgan province on October 1, the alliance said in a statement on Sunday.

Mullah Sakhi Dad, who had linked with ordering and coordination of suicide bombers in province, was arrested without firing a shot, the statement said.

"Suicide bombers are alleged to have often reported directly to him and would not conduct their attacks without his permission, it said, adding, "Sakhi Dad is also understood to be connected to Taliban leadership, especially Mullah Berader Akhund, the Taliban's second in command."

As part of their campaign to topple the Western-backed Afghan government, Taliban militants have begun to rely largely on use of suicide and roadside attacks.

Around 70,000 international forces and as many Afghan forces have been fighting the resurgent Taliban, whose government was toppled in US military invasion in late 2001.

More than 4,000 people, mostly insurgents, have been killed in conflict so far this year. (dpa)