Array_Slice error when trying to RSS feed sites own comments

Hi there,

When I try to use the below code to get the 5 latest comments, I get this error :

Warning: array_slice() [function.array-slice]: The first argument should be an array in /home/site/www/wp-content/themes/default/sidebar.php on line 123

Code :

<li>
<h2>Last 5 Comments On </a></h2>
<?php
        // Include the RSS functions of wordpress
        include_once(ABSPATH . WPINC . '/rss.php');
        // Grab my RSS feed
        $feed = fetch_rss("<?php bloginfo('comments_rss2_url');>");
        // I want 5 results please
        $maxitems = 5;
        $items = array_slice($feed->items, 0, $maxitems);
        // Output the results!
        if(!empty($items)) {
                echo '<ul>';
                foreach ($items as $item) {
                        echo '<li>';
                        echo '<a href="';
                        // This is a bit messy, but it makes the output valid XHTML strict by removing ampersands
                        $item['link'] = str_replace("&", "&amp;", $item['link']);
                        $item['link'] = str_replace("&amp;&amp;", "&amp;", $item['link']);
                        // End of messyness. Output the link
                        echo $item['link'];
                        echo '">';
                        // Output the title
                        echo $item['title'];
                        echo '</a>';
                        // If i've written a description, output it
                        if (isset($item['description'])) {
                                echo '<br />';
                                echo $item['description'];
                        }
                        echo '</li>';
                }
                echo '</ul>';
        }
?>

The frustrating thing is : when I put another RSS feed into the fetch_rss location field, it works just fine.

Directly inputting the /sites/comment/feed address into the fetch_rss location field also does not work. Same error.

Going with Firefox to /site/comments/feed works just fine.

This happens whether or not I have the Feedburner FeedSmith plugin turned on.

As a side note, how can I reduce the number of characters returned to say, 50?

Thanks VERY much for your help on this, I really need assistance here.

Line 123 is BTW –

$items = array_slice($feed->items, 0, $maxitems);