Residents of a militant-held city on Baghdad's doorstep began slowly returning on Saturday amid a tense calm, while the UN Security Council backed Iraq's efforts against Al-Qaeda-linked extremists.

FALLUJAH, Iraq - In a narrow alley, Marines pinned down by a hail of guerrilla fire sent up red smoke in a cry for help. Tanks pounded shell after shell into houses, while troops on the city's edge ...

The newly joined battle for Fallujah may accomplish little in the end, but it is an urgent piece of business. The insurgency in Iraq needs at least to be suppressed before January's national elections ...