Compiling Python from Sources

[rwr]

As a newbie I am having problems/errors configuring Python after
unpacking the Python archive:

# ./configure
checking MACHDEP... linux2
checking EXTRAPLATDIR...
checking for --without-gcc... no
checking for --with-cxx=<compiler>... no
checking for c++... no
checking for g++... no
checking for gcc... gcc
checking for C++ compiler default output file name... configure: error:
C++ compiler cannot create executables
See `config.log' for more details.

Any help on my current dilemma???
TIA,
rwr