KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (AP) A taxi hit a land mine on a road in a remote area of southern Afghanistan on Wednesday, killing three people and wounding two others, a provincial government spokesman said.

Ali Khail said the incident took place near the district of Sori in southern Zabul province, 225 kilometers (135 miles) northeast of Kandahar, and that the injured included a woman.

``We believe that Taliban are responsible for it,'' Khail said, adding the rebels had planted the land mine for Afghan soldiers have been looking for them.

However, he did not offer any evidence. Meanwhile, suspected Taliban late Tuesday opened fire on a vehicle carrying a district police chief Qayyum Khan and injured him before fleeing, an official Rozi Khan said. He said the officer was being treated at a hospital in Kabul.

Taliban, whose government was ousted as a result of U.S.-led attacks in late 2001, have recently stepped up their attacks against Afghan and coalition forces, undermining assertions from Afghan officials that security has improved significantly.