Make another database connection

Hello,

I have done a lot of searching and reading regarding this issue I am having..

Basically, I am trying to establish a new database connection on a wordpress page in order to grab content from my own CMS.

<? require_once ('../path/to/database/connect/scipt/connect.php'); // Connect to the db. ?>

(Above) So I link to my db connect script (which works as it is working on other pages in my site)

<?php $query = "SELECT link, art_id, date_format(date_time, ' %b ') as month, date_format(date_time, ' %d ') as day, title, summary, content FROM nav LEFT JOIN news USING (nav_id) WHERE active = 'yes' ORDER BY date_time DESC LIMIT 0,5";.... etc etc ?>

(Above) The query of the database etc…

However, It seems as though it is trying to query the wordpress database ($wpdb).

If anyone could help, I would be very appreciative.

Many thanks,

James