[web2py] search text inside html - using html.elements find

[pubu]

Hi,
i am trying to search inside html data, which i get from DB(sqllite).

Everythink works well, but if i try to search for 'äöü', i get no
match.

   #before ö -> ö
    data = '<a>pers&ouml;nliche bitte</a>' # data from db created with
wysiwyg editor
    html = TAG(data)
    #after  &ouml; -> ?
    el_list = html.elements(find=re.compile('pers&ouml;nliche',
re.IGNORECASE)) or html.elements(find=re.compile('persönliche',
re.IGNORECASE))

Can anybody tell me what i am doing wrong?

Thanks in advance,
paul