Kabul  - Gunmen using machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades attacked one of Afghan President Hamid Karzai's running mates in northern Afghanistan on Sunday, but caused no casualties, the provincial governor said.

Mohammad Qasim Fahim was traveling in a convoy in Khan Abad district of northern Kunduz province on Sunday afternoon, when he was ambushed, Mohammad Omar, the provincial governor of Kunduz told the German Press Agency dpa.

Fahim, who was campaigning on Karzai's behalf in the northern provinces, was heading towards neighbouring Takhar province on a highway when militants "fired rockets and machine guns from the other side of the river," Omar said.

"Thank God nobody was hurt in the attack and the convoy just continued on its way," he said, adding that the area from where the attack was launched was not fully manned by Afghan security forces.

"Taliban are active in this are," he said.

Fahim is the former leader of the Northern Alliance, the group that helped US-led forces topple the Taliban government in late 2001.

With less than a month until August 20 presidential elections, Taliban militants have intensified their attacks throughout Afghanistan.

On Saturday, seven Taliban fighters, wearing suicide-bomb vests and carrying automatic weapons, attacked several government buildings in the eastern city of Khost as Ramazan Bashardost, one of 41 presidential candidates, was campaigning in the city.

Bashardost was not hurt in the attack, but three policemen and 14 civilians were wounded. The attackers were all killed by Afghan security forces. (dpa)