[jQuery] (autocomplete)

[jQuery] (autocomplete)


I am using the jQuery plugin autocomplete on an country input field:
I got this php array with countries in dutch:
$global_countries = array();
$global_countries['AF'] = 'Afghanistan';
$global_countries['AX'] = 'Ålandseilanden';
$global_countries['AL'] = 'Albanië';
...
Then php implodes the array and evals a html file to fill the js var.
This is in my html file:
    var countries = [$countries];
    $("#country").autocomplete(countries, {
        minChars: 2,
        max: 12,
        autoFill: false,
        mustMatch: true,
        matchContains: true,
        scrollHeight: 220
    });
But now, when I start to type a country I get ALL special characters
like: Belgi�
If I use php htmlentities on each country it is displayed like it
should in the select list, but when selected I see the ASCII code of
course. België becomes België