A statement posted on militant Islamic web sites from an organization calling itself the Jihad Islamic Group said the unrest that began March 28 was retaliation for the secular Uzbek regime's oppressive policies.
It was the first publicized claim of responsibility for the attacks.
"The Jihad Islamic Group is responsible for all the jihad operations that took place and are still going on in the Islamic state of Uzbekistan," the statement said. "These operations came as a response to the injustice and brutality practiced by the infidel leaders in this country."
Uzbekistan has long been criticized for its record on human rights and a crackdown on Muslims who worship outside state-affiliated mosques.
The statement from the new group -- posted on at least three web sites connected to Islamic militant groups -- said Muslims are "tortured and imprisoned as a way to terrorize and degrade them."
Uzbek officials say at least 47 people, including 33 alleged terrorists and 10 police, died in four days of explosions, suicide attacks and assaults on authorities.
Prosecutor General Rashid Kadyrov said Friday that the militants behind the attacks were taught by Arab al-Qaida instructors. He also said the militants were influenced by Hizb ut-Tahrir, an extremist Islamic group that claims to disavow violence.
Kadyrov said 45 people were under arrest and nine more detained for questioning.
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