BAGHDAD (AP) - Al-Qaida's front group in Iraq has claimed responsibility for the latest wave of bloody attacks that killed 46 people in eight cities nationwide.

A statement posted today on a militant website says the Islamic State of Iraq wanted to prove how weak the Iraqi government's security plans are ahead of next week's Arab League meeting in Baghdad.

At least 46 people were killed and more than 200 were wounded in Tuesday's shootings and bombings, which took place over six hours.

Al-Qaida says its "Sunni lions" targeted the plan of the "fool government preparing" for the summit.

The Arab leaders' meeting is the first in Iraq in a generation. Iraq's government hopes it will be a chance to prove the country is moving toward normalcy after years of war.