ALBRIGHT SAYS FEAR OF U.N. SPLIT LED TO IRAQ DECISION.(MAIN)

Byline: Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- Responding to critics leine Albright said Monday that concerns about creating a deep split in the U.N. Security Council prompted her to oppose certain inspections of suspected weapons sites in Iraq.

Word of Albright's opposition was disclosed last week, prompting congressional and media criticism and suggestions that the United States, after seven years, had lost its will to maintain strict enforcement of the U.N. arms inspection regime against Iraq.

In an opinion piece in The New York Times, Albright gave for the first time a full explanation of her decision not to support an ``intrusive inspection'' planned …