The python RPM that comes with 6.1 (Python 1.5.2) has been compiled with threads enabled but the threads library (libpthread, linuxthreads) isn't found by the runtime system (does it still exist?). This means python cannot be linked into any C program, even one that doesn't use threads. I tried compiling python from source and come up with the same problem until I configured with --without-thread
Try compiling your application with -lpthread
I'm assuming that Michael's suggestion has solved your problem, and am therefore closing this bug. If this is not the correct solution, please reopen this bug.