gettext errors with wxPython in linux

[=?iso-8859-1?B?aWFuYXLp?=]

given the foolowing code:

import gettext
gettext.install('messages', './locale', unicode=0)

<snip>

def __init__(self, parent):
# initialise preferences
self.prefs = self.getPrefs()

# initialise language:
language = self.prefs['language=']
langdir = self.realPath('./locale')
Lang = gettext.translation(domain='messages',
localedir=langdir, languages=[language])
Lang.install()

<snip>

# return full path:
def realPath(self, file):
return os.path.join(sys.path[0],file)
.....

and using following structure:
application_folder/locale/fr/LC_MESSAGES/messages.mo

works fine in windows2k, XP, however under linux:
IOError: [Errno 2] No translation file found for domain: 'messages'

what gives? thanks.