U.S. Says Elite Republican Units Frayed; Wide Front Develops South Of Baghdad Military Defends Battle Plan Troops, planes carve out an arc-shaped stronghold; Brits in south doff helmets.(A)

Byline: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Two Iraqi Republican Guard units are at less than half their original strength after days of air and ground attacks by coalition forces, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Tuesday.

"We continue to work on them," said Air Force Gen. Richard Myers. He said Iraqi commanders have moved some troops around as reinforcements for the divisions that are the main force defending Baghdad.

"But some of them have been degraded to pretty low percentages of combat capability -- below 50% in at least two cases," said Myers.

Meanwhile, U.S.-led forces bombed and battled Iraqi troops across a large arc south of Baghdad in a day-and-night pounding meant to pave the way for an attack on the capital. "The circle is closing," said Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

Myers said coalition forces are taking it to Iraqi forces, and there will be "bigger pushes that will be under way as soon as we're ready." But he gave no indication of the timing of an assault on Baghdad.

The defense secretary said Republican Guard units "have been taking a pounding" for several days. "They're being attacked from the air, they're pressured from the ground, and in good time they won't be there."