BAGHDAD: Al-Qaeda’s front group in Iraq claimed responsibility Wednesday for a wave of attacks that killed 46 people across the country this week. It added that the violence exposes how weak government security is ahead of the upcoming Arab League summit in Baghdad.

The attacks Tuesday struck Shiite pilgrims in the holy city of Karbala, set cars on fire near a police headquarters in Kirkuk and targeted security forces and government officials in Baghdad. In all, insurgents struck eight cities in just under six hours, killing 46 people and wounding 200.

The statement by the Islamic State of Iraq, posted on a militant website Wednesday, said its “Sunni lions” targeted the plan of the “fool government preparing” for the summit.

“Within a few hours, all the security measures adopted by the Shiite government have collapsed and the enemy was taken by surprise,” the statement said. “Several government and security headquarters were attacked.”