ParseError : Syntax Error X_String, expected ',' or ';'

Greetings:
I have virtual box guest Ubuntu, I installed LAMP successfully on it,
php works too because it responds to phpinfo(); but:
when I echo something out, I receive ParseError : Syntax Error X_String, expected ',' or ';'
chartset is utf-8 both in php.ini to php5/apache2 and
I also added AddDefaultCharset to apache2.conf
also editor saves the php file in utf-8.
yet no result and error shows up like the angel of death on my browser. (both FF and Chrome)
Thanks ahead
Kian Willliam

Greetings,
I know the question was ubuntu related, but the host is Windows 7 ultimate,
Everything works now. When I installed ubuntu on virtual box, I set the language settings as English UK (old international ...), I changed it to English US. The problem was not with php or lamp at all. It was with the language settings.
Kian William