[CentOS] Strange autotools error

I am using CentOS 5.6, autoconf 2.59 and automake 1.9.6. I run an 
autogen script which cleans all autotools files and then installs new 
ones. If the appliction has no dependencies running configure, make and 
make install works fine. However if it has dependencies I get the 
messages "Creating Makefile" and "Could not find input file Makefile". 
I've herd that I need another development package. What is it? Or what 
causes these contradictory messages?
I must say that I have encountered this sort of problem only on CentOS. 

Thanks,
John

-- 
John J. Boyer; President, Chief Software Developer
Abilitiessoft, Inc.
http://www.abilitiessoft.com
Madison, Wisconsin USA
Developing software for people with disabilities


----- End forwarded message -----

-- 
John J. Boyer; President, Chief Software Developer
Abilitiessoft, Inc.
http://www.abilitiessoft.com
Madison, Wisconsin USA
Developing software for people with disabilities