function readXML()
{
      createRequest();
      var url = "fetchFriends.php?sk=" + sk;

      url = url + "&dummy=" + new Date().getTime();
      request.open("GET", url, true);
      request.onreadystatechange = updatePage;
      request.send(null);
}

// ReadXML in ReadFriendsXML umbenennen; ReadMeXML dann analog,
// es muss aber noch der Parameter uid angehängt werden
// var url = "fetchFriends.php?sk=" + sk + "&uid=" + uid;

function createRequest()
{
          try{
              request = new XMLHttpRequest();
          }
          catch (trymicrosoft){
              try{
                  request = new ActiveXObject("Msxml2.XMLHTTP");
              }
              catch (othermicrosoft){
                  try{
                      request = new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP");
                  }
                  catch (failed){
                      request = null;
                  }
              }
          }
          if (request == null){
              alert("Error creating request object!");
          }
}



function updatePage()
{
  if (request.readyState == 4)
  {
    if (request.status == 200)
    {
      var xmldoc = request.responseXML;
      loadFriends(xmldoc);
    }
    else
    {
      alert("Error! Request status is " + request.status);
    }
  }
}