strange error when starting apache with PHP enabled

I'm running RH 9.0 with the latest builds of Apache and PHP

(I downloaded the tarballs last weekend)

Apache configured with the standard modules and installed without
problem.

When I configured/compiled/installed PHP, Apache bombed out on
startup. In the httpd_error log I get:

input in flex scanner failed

Apache runs fine when I comment out the PHP4 module in httpd.conf,
and the error is documented in the PHP online manual, so I am
confident the error is generated in the PHP module

Apparently, the error comes up when the PHP engine unsuccessfully
tries to open a file with the require() function call.The theory
I have is that PHP is causing the fuss because it can't find the
php.ini file, but I put it in the /usr/local/lib/php.ini/
subdirectory as the manual suggested. I also put it in
the /usr/local/lib/ subdir.

anybody have suggestions? I'm at a loss. I've sucessfully installed
Apache with PHP on RedHat once before.

I am just getting into learning the language.

Thanks in advance,

--Riche