A suicide car bomber has attacked Germany's consulate in northern Afghanistan, killing four people and wounding more than 100.

A suicide bomber blew himself up today at the gate of the police headquarters in Lashkar Gah in southern Afghanistan, killing at least 11 security officers in a city where Afghans have recently taken control of security.

Nato took over eastern Afghanistan from US-led forces today, assuming control of 12,000 US troops and expanding their security mission to the entire country.

Suspected Taliban militants ambushed and killed six Afghans today as they were transporting the body of a government engineer who was killed on Wednesday in another deadly rebel attack, officials said.