Php removes part of string -

i have simple string variable:

$query="select * striscie previous, striscie current previous.linea=current.linea , current.ident=$striscia , previous.position<current.position , previous.position>current.position-$stops"; 

yet, when echo or use it, turns to:

select * striscie previous, striscie current previous.linea=current.linea , current.ident=897524 , previous.positioncurrent.position-3 select * striscie previous, striscie current previous.linea=current.linea , current.ident=920173 , previous.positioncurrent.position-2 

by deleting whole part of string. tried restarting apache no avail. might be?

< being treated html browser. don't blindly output stuff that.