Can you add the missing library path in CFLAGS and LDFLAGS environment variables?.

Something like: (from a fresh source code)

./configure OPTIONS CFLAGS=-Ipath LDFLAGS=-Ipath

If that works, we can explore why the path is not detected automatically.

Do your path contains any unusual character, like spaces?

Tell me the exact "configure" line you are using.

Have you tried to build python 3.3? (unreleased yet, current development version)

The include directorios is defined in "Makefile", variable PY_CPPFLAGS. In my system, that is "-I. -I$(srcdir)/Include $(CONFIGURE_CPPFLAGS) $(CPPFLAGS". What is the value in your system? (after the configure step).