I've always used:
>>> fd=posix.popen('ls','r')
>>> s=fd.read(4)
>>> fd.close()
Anthony
--
anthony baxter @ /\/\|| / australian artificial intelligence institute, \
email: anthony@aaii.oz.au ||===============================================||
phone: +613 663 7922 \ level 6, 171 latrobe st, melbourne aust. 3000 /
That's SULTAN Vile Betrayer to you - Iago, Aladdin.