Vorbis - Sep 2004 - Cannot configure libao build on x86 with ARM as target

I am having trouble configuring libao for cross compiling for an arm 
target on an x86 host. I try
./confgure --target=arm
but, get the following error
configure: error: can not run test program while cross compiling
and it ends without finishing.

What do I need to pass the configure script in order to build libao for 
an ARM target using srm cross tools on an x86 host?

tj