Al-Qaida in Iraq claims responsibility for massive Baghdad bombings

BAGHDAD, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- The al-Qaida in Iraq network claimed Thursday its responsibility for Tuesday's massive bombings that Related killed and wounded hundreds of Iraqis, the group said in a statement posted on the internet.

The self-styled Islamic State in Iraq (ISI) said in its statement that its attacks targeted "bastions of evil and dens of apostates," confirming that the group is determined to uproot the Iraqi government and that the "list of its targets has no end."

The authenticity of the claim could not be immediately verified.

On Tuesday, five coordinated deadly attacks struck the Iraqi capital, killing up to 127 people and wounding more than 448 others. The latest wave of bombings is the third of such attacks after the massive attacks on Aug. 19 and Oct. 25.

The same group also claimed the responsibility for both August and October attacks.

Despite the dramatic drop in violence in more than two years in Iraq, insurgents are still capable to carry out high-profile attacks that may raise concerns about the ability of Iraqi security forces to contain violence ahead of the country's national elections early next year.