[UMN_MAPSERVER-USERS] Projection issue in Mapscript vs Mapfile

[d c]

Hi listers,

I want  to set the following projection (which works perfectly in the mapfile)
dynamically in Mapscript.

PROJECTION
 "proj=stere"
 "ellps=WGS84"
 "datum=WGS84"
 "lon_0=0"
 "lat_0=-90"
 "lat_ts=-71"
 "units=m"
END

------  MapScript ----------------

$map->setProjection("proj=stere, ellps=WGS84, datum=WGS84, lon_0=0, lat_0=-90, lat_ts=-71, units=m");
- or -
$layer->setProjection("proj=stere, ellps=WGS84, datum=WGS84, lon_0=0, lat_0=-90, lat_ts=-71, units=m");

------- Error -----------------------

Fatal error: [MapServer Error]: msProcessProjection(): major axis or radius = 0 or not given in .....php

-----------------------------------------

The parameters are identical: What's the problem? Doc help on this subject is scarce...
I've tried to add several more parameters specified on the Proj4 site, for this projection
(x_0 = 0,  y_0=0, k_0=1.0) to no avail.

Any suggestions extremely welcome,

Dan