Is there a way to escape xml/html tags? about ttp HOT 2 CLOSED

data = """
Name:Jane<br>
Name:Michael<br>
Name:July<br>
"""

template = """
<group name="people">
Name:{{ name }}&lt;br&gt;
</group>
"""

# this works as well
# template = "Name:{{ name }}br"
# data = data.replace("<", "").replace(">", "")

# this did not work. fails with xml parsing error
# template = "Name:{{ name }}&lt;br&gt;"
# data = data.replace("<", "&lt;").replace(">", "&gt;")

parser = ttp(data, template)
parser.parse()
res = parser.result()
print(res)    

# prints:
# [[{'people': [{'name': 'Jane'}, {'name': 'Michael'}, {'name': 'July'}]}]]