gistfile1.py

import datetime
import locale

def utc_datetime_from_twitter_string_timestamp(s):
    """Parses as datetime.datetime in UTC a string formated Twitter timestamp"""
    # we must parse the date in an english locale (due to %a and %b)
    prev_loc = locale.getlocale()
    try:
        locale.setlocale(locale.LC_ALL, 'C')
        return datetime.datetime.strptime(s, u'%a %b %d %H:%M:%S +0000 %Y')
    finally:
        locale.setlocale(locale.LC_ALL, prev_loc)


utc_datetime_from_twitter_string_timestamp(u'Fri Apr 03 16:08:49 +0000 2009')