can't link Python 2.4.1 against external libxml2 ...

[OpenMacNews]

hi all,

i've successfully built Python-2.4.1 from src on OSX 10.3.8 as a framework 
install with:

    ./configure \
    --enable-framework \
    --with-threads \
    --with-cxx=g++ \
    --enable-ipv6 \
    --enable-toolbox-glue

    make frameworkinstall

i'm next attempting to build same but linking against an external instance of 
libxml2 (v2.6.18) installed in /usr/local ...

i've tried the ususal combinations of setting LDFLAGS and/or assigning 
--with-libs (="/usr/local/lib/libxml2.2.6.18.dylib"), to no avail.

no matter what i do, the build links against the 'native' /usr/lib/libxml* ... 
successful w/ no error, just the 'wrong' lib.

wondering whether i had unusual path probs, i also tried mv'ing the native libs 
out of the way, so that the only instance of libxml* is found in 
/usr/local/lib, but then the make fails, complaining that /usr/lib/libxml* is 
not found. sigh.

i'm fairly sure i'm missing something trivial here ...

any suggestions/pointers as to how to link *my* libxml into the framework build?

thanks!

richard