title: XML to/from a Python dictionary
body: <p>I need to use Python 2.4.4 to convert XML to and from a Python dictionary. All I need are the node names and values, I'm not worried about attributes because the XML I'm parsing doesn't have any. I can't use <code>ElementTree</code> because that isn't available for 2.4.4, and I can't use 3rd party libraries due to my work environment. What's the easiest way for me to do this? Are there any good snippets?</p>
  
  <p>Also, if there isn't an easy way to do this, are there any alternative serialization formats that Python 2.4.4 has native support for?</p>