KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- Afghan officials say a suicide bomber has struck outside a provincial council building in the country's north, causing casualties.

Police spokesman in Baghlan province, Jawed Bashrat, says the bomber was on foot and targeted the leader of the provincial council as he was walking into the building on Monday morning.

Bashrat says civilians and provincial council members are among the casualties, though he doesn't have an immediate figure for the dead and wounded.

Insurgents seeking to weaken the Afghan government have been carrying out attacks and assassinations intended to intimidate both officials and civilians ahead of next year's withdrawal of most international troops.