Five presidential security guards were killed Friday night on the Baghdad-Kirkuk highway.

Two high-profile guards were wounded in an explosion, Deutsche Presse informs.

Officials said that explosives had been planted in one of the cars of the members of the Iraqi presidential security unit.

Meanwhile Iraqi authorities said Saturday that Baghdad, and the northern cities of Mosul, Baquba, and Saddam's hometown Tikrit will be put a 24-hour blanket curfew for Sunday's scheduled verdict in the war crimes trial of Saddam Hussein.

This way, authorities attempt to avoid any violence around the announcement of the verdict in the war crimes trial of Saddam Hussein.

Saddam Hussein and seven former top government officials are accused of crimes against humanity for the killing of 148 Shiites in the town of Dujail in 1982 in retaliation for an attempt on Saddam's life.

If found guilty, Saddam Hussein could face a public hanging.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki says he hopes the ousted dictator "gets what he deserves."