(KUNA) -- Five presidential guards were killed and another two were injured as a result of an explosion in southern Kirkuk northern Iraq, Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) said Friday. The bomb was detonated when a Presidency Brigade's vehicle was passing through al-Athiem area, which resulted in the immediate killing of the guards, a source at PUK told KUNA.Al-Athiem area, located on the Baghdad-Kirkuk main highway have been witnessing violent acts against civilians, Iraqi and multi-national forces. Violent actions have been taking place all over Iraq since the country was liberated in 2003, killing and wounding thousands of civilians and servicemen.