Updated

A roadside bomb hit a convoy carrying an Afghan vice president and a Cabinet minister in northern Afghanistan (search) Monday, injuring one of their bodyguards without harming the politicians, police said.

The attack follows a failed assassination attempt last week on President Hamid Karzai (search) and warnings that violence could surge ahead of Oct. 9 elections.

Police said Nayiamatullah Shahrani, one of four Afghan vice presidents, and Urban Development Minister Gul Agha Sherzai were on their way to inspect a road project in a northern province.

The bomb, hidden by the roadside in Khanabad district of Kunduz province, damaged a car in the 20-vehicle convoy that was carrying Shahrani's bodyguards, police chief Mutaleb Beg said.

"It was detonated by remote control," Beg said. "It damaged one of the cars and one of his guards was slightly hurt by the flying glass."

Beg blamed "enemies" for the attack, but didn't elaborate. No one was immediately arrested.

The convoy was able to continue to Takhar province, where the officials were to examine the construction project.

On Thursday, Karzai aborted his first major campaign event when suspected Taliban (search) fired a rocket at the U.S. military helicopter bringing his to a school opening in southeastern Afghanistan.