Cross compile problem - glib and libiconv

[Tommy Tam <ttam aerio com>]

I have seen other posting related to similar problem, but haven't come 
across the answer yet.

I'm trying to cross compile GTK+ 2.4.4 for uClinux running on the ARM, 
using a Redhat Linux system.  I'm using the compilers CC=arm-elf-gcc and 
CXX=arm-elf-g++.  Here are 2 issues:

1. libiconv 1.9.1
I can configure, make and make install libiconv with no error.  If I run 
configure with the --host=arm or even --host=i686 option, no .so file is 
generated in the library (only .a and .al files). If I don't use the 
--host= option and use the normal gcc and g++ compiler, the .so files will 
be created in the library.  Why is that?  Do I not need the .so library 
files if I'm cross compiling?

2. glib 2.4.5
Even through I have installed libiconv, and set up all the paths, configure 
will not find it.  This problem only occurs if I'm using the cross 
compiler.  The normal compiler works fine, since libiconv is included in 
the system already.  This error message...

checking for iconv_open... no
checking for libiconv_open in -liconv... no
checking for iconv_open in -liconv... no
configure: error: *** No iconv() implementation found in C library or libiconv

I tried glib 2.6.1 but it has the same problem.  Any suggestion on how to 
make configure see the libiconv?

Tommy