python bug fix update

Updated python packages that fix several thread and subprocess bugs are
now available for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.

Python is an interpreted, interactive, object-oriented programming
language often compared to Tcl, Perl, Scheme or Java. Python includes
modules, classes, exceptions, very high level dynamic data types and
dynamic typing. Python supports interfaces to many system calls and
libraries, as well as to various windowing systems (X11, Motif, Tk,
Mac and MFC).

These updated packages apply fixes for the following bugs:

* processes were cleaned and their IDs recycled regardless of whether
the processes had an active reference. This meant that child processes
had their IDs recycled before their parent called for a value, which
resulted in an OS Error (No child processes). The parent now checks
whether a child process has returned before cleaning its ID, and the error
no longer presents. (BZ#498979, BZ#498978)

* a child process would attempt to import variables that had already been
imported by a parent process. This meant that both parent and child could
attempt to import simultaneously, which could cause a deadlock between
parent and child threads. Since the child process can inherit the
variables of its parent, the child's import method has been removed and
the process no longer hangs. (BZ#499095, BZ#499097)

All users are advised to upgrade to these updated python packages, which
contain the fixes for these issues.

Before applying this update, make sure that all previously-released
errata relevant to your system have been applied.

This update is available via Red Hat Network. Details on how to use
the Red Hat Network to apply this update are available at
http://kbase.redhat.com/faq/docs/DOC-11259

498979 - Python subprocess module has a race
499097 - Python thread may hang during subprocess