How to use a variable for bgcolor?

How can I use an XSLT variable to be used as background color in
an html table? The '#' in the color definition is giving me fits.
For example, if I define a variable like so:

<xsl:variable name="colr" select="#FFCCCC"/>

and then try to use it like so:

<td bgcolor="{$colr}">

I get an error complaining about the '#' character. How can I
define bgcolors as variables or am I going about it all wrong?
(I'm pretty new to XSLT.)

TIA,
- Bill THoen

 XSL-List info and archive:  http://www.mulberrytech.com/xsl/xsl-list