Problem building matplotlib

I am trying to build Matplotlib 0.87.7 on an RHEL 4.4-derived

    >> system, with Python 2.3.4. I am running into a weird
    >> problem. When I do "python setup.py build", I get the following
    >> error:

It looks like this bug

http://matplotlib.sourceforge.net/faq.html#PYGTK24