KABUL- A suicide car bomber rammed a European Union vehicle near the main airport in Afghanistan's capital today, killing at least two Afghans and a British national in the latest attack in the city, officials said.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack on the European Union Police Mission in Afghanistan (EUPOL), which advises Afghan law enforcement authorities. The insurgents have launched a wave of attacks around the country since the drawdown of most foreign troops last year to a small training force.

EUPOL spokeswoman Sari Haukka-Konu confirmed that one of the mission's vehicles was hit by an explosion near Kabul airport. She said all the EUPOL personnel "are in a safe place" with non-fatal injuries, but another person traveling in the vehicle was killed.

A British embassy spokesman later confirmed that a British national was among the dead but could give no other details.

Police spokesman Ebadullah Karimi said a suicide bomber in a Toyota Corolla rammed a foreign vehicle on the road from Kabul's main airport to a NATO military installation nearby. He said at least two Afghan civilian bystanders were killed and 18 people were wounded.

The bomber struck about 200 meters from the main airport entrance along the road leading to NATO's adjacent base.