[mod_python] encodings (codecs)

Hi!

I have a problem using encode() method of a string object inside my
publisher handlers. I get LookupError: unknown encoding. 
Here is the sample.

def test(req):
	cnt = "Hello, World Wide!"
	return cnt.encode("utf-8")

BTW, this function works fine being called not from mod_python handler.

How could it be fixed?

Thanks.

Michael.