Erroneous line number error in Py2.4.1 [Windows 2000+SP3]

[Timo]

For some reason Python 2.3.5 reports the error in the following program
correctly:

  File "C:\Temp\problem.py", line 7
SyntaxError: unknown decode error

..whereas Python 2.4.1 reports an invalid line number:

  File "C:\Temp\problem.py", line 2
SyntaxError: unknown decode error

----- problem.py starts -----
# -*- coding: ascii -*-

"""
Foo bar
"""

# Ä is not allowed in ascii coding
----- problem.py ends -----

Does anyone have a clue what is going on? Without the encoding
declaration both Python versions report the usual deprecation warning
(just like they should be doing).

My environment: Windows 2000 + SP3.

BR,
    Timo