Over all, LVMH's sales were down 6percentt in 2003, which would translate into plus 4percentt if the dollar were stronger, officials said.
Despite strong official opposition, Peter persevered for 38 years, baptizing an estimated 300,000 slaves.
Filling a 60-litre tank with petrol costs less than a dollar at the strongest official exchange rate.
The sudden appearance of strong official reservations about the dam comes on the eve of a major Communist Party congress.
Thanks to tight controls and high demand for hard currency, a black market has emerged on which the dollar sells for sixteen times the strongest official exchange rate.
"What we are lacking is a strong official voice to counter those reactionary voices … this makes it very difficult to fight for progress.
Ms. Sills, 72, who has been chairwoman since 1994, has periodically contemplated leaving but told friends it would be difficult without another strong official in place.
He also offered the strongest official response yet to the scandal surrounding Bo Xilai, the ambitious party secretary of the Chongqing metropolis who spearheaded a much-publicized crackdown on corruption with the city's police chief at the time, Wang Lijun.
