SHA WALI KOT, Afghanistan - Four Afghans have been detained after a roadside bomb was detonated shortly after a Canadian convoy passed by.

The blast happened minutes after a high-level contingent of Canadian, American and British officials arrived at a community meeting in the district of Sha Wali Kot, 25 kilometres north of Kandahar City.

They were there to discuss security issues with community elders and none were injured in the explosion.

Officials say local villagers flagged down Afghan police and pointed out the bomb shortly before it detonated.

Afghan police gave chase to men running away from the scene and arrested them after a brief skirmish inside a local house.

Police say at least one man's hands tested positive for explosives and all four will be sent to prison in Kandahar city for further investigation.