KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (AFP) - About 40 people were wounded on Monday when a Taleban suicide bomber detonated a truck carrying around a tonne of explosives at the gate of a government complex in southern Afghanistan, officials said.

Women and children were among those injured in the attack on the complex in Zabul province, which includes several government buildings including the provincial council.

"Around 40 people were wounded in the suicide attack on the complex" in the provincial capital Qalat, local police chief Mirwais Noorzai told AFP. "Around 1,000kg of explosives were used in the attack."

Deputy police chief Ghulam Jailani Farahi confirmed the casualties, adding that the wounded were all civilians and some were in critical condition.

The Taleban, waging a 13-year war against the US-backed Afghan government, claimed responsibility for the attack.

The insurgents are stepping up attacks on government and foreign targets after their traditional summer offensive got under way.