2.4.2 compilation

[pnm]

I have a standard Debian x86 system with Python 2.4.1 (compiled from
source). Attempts to compile 2.4.2 fail with references to Unicode --
is there a basic system library that's missing?

++++++ output from make:
libpython2.4.a(funcobject.o)(.text+0x96): In function `PyFunction_New':
Objects/funcobject.c:31: undefined reference to `PyUnicode_Type'
libpython2.4.a(funcobject.o)(.text+0x9d):Objects/funcobject.c:31:
undefined reference to `PyUnicode_Type'
collect2: ld returned 1 exit status
make: *** [python] Error 1