KABUL, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- A suicide bomber blew himself up in Afghanistan's southern Helmand province Sunday, killing one police officer and wounding eight others, police said.

    "It was 11:45 a.m. (0715 GMT) when a man strapped explosive device in his body attempted to approach a police officer Kohkar but policemen did not allow him and he blew himself up killing a police constable on the spot and injuring eight others including two policemen and six civilians," provincial police chief Mohammad Hussain Andiwal told Xinhua.

    The incident, he added, occurred in Lashkargah, the capital of Helmand province, which is known as the heartland of Taliban militants.

    Two children were also among the injured, he added.

    Taliban militants who vowed to increase attacks against Afghan and international troops in 2008 have yet to claim responsibility for today's bombing.

    Both Afghans and NATO commanders expect more Taliban attacks against Afghan and NATO forces this year in Afghanistan.