The U.S. military says American and Iraqi forces fighting insurgents near the Syrian border have cleared most of the western city of Ubaydi of insurgents, but pockets of resistance remain.

The military says coalition forces have encountered some of the heaviest fighting in Ubaydi since Operation Steel Curtain began 10 days ago.  Officials say three Marines and 80 insurgents have been killed since coalition forces entered the city on Monday.

They have found houses and cars rigged with explosives, other explosive devices and mines, and weapons caches.

The operation is intended to restore security along the Euphrates River Valley ahead of next month's Iraqi parliamentary elections.

Meanwhile, insurgent attacks in Baghdad and Kirkuk killed eight policemen Tuesday. And coalition forces say they captured a high-level Baath Party leader Hamid Sharki Shadid in Diyala province.