France , Russia , China and others had advocated a stronger U.N. role to give a U.S.-chosen Iraqi authority international legitimacy .
France , Russia , China and even staunch ally Britain had advocated a stronger U.N. role , which they said was needed to give a U.S.-backed Iraqi authority international legitimacy .
It predicted that a 7.0 percent rise to $ 204.9 billion in 2006 would push the industry 's yearly sales slightly past its highest-ever level in in 2000 .