stefano wrote:

> configure.in:8: version mismatch. This is Automake 1.7.9,
> configure.in:8: but the definition used by this AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE
> configure.in:8: comes from Automake 1.7.8.

the automake wrapper strikes again <g>.
look in /usr/bin. automake is a symlink pointing to a wrapper script. i
helped myself removing the link (temporary!) and setting a new one. in your
case set the link to automake 1.7.8. if everything worked out, set the old
link again.

probably not the smartest way, but it works