PHP files with includes returns garbage characters in result to flash.

[keyboardass]

Here is the problem I am having;
My php file is returning garbage characters to flash, but only if there is an include in the php code.

Example:

<?php

include("any_included_php_script.php");

echo "name=value";

?>

returns "%EF%BB%BF%EF%BB%BFname=value"
(Different includes generate different junk characters.)

<?php

echo "name=value";

?>

returns "name=value"

I tested using multiple php scripts with multiple includes, both on my testing server and my live server and i consistently get the same results.

Has anyone else had this problem before?
Can anyone recommend a solution to rid the garbage characters from being echoed back to flash?