Mozblog not functioning

I just installed the latest Mozblog (v 6.17) under Mozilla 1.2.1 on Suse Linux 8.0 and can't configure it: 
the preferences panel gets stuck after "checking settings" when I have put in my Blogger settings - the progress bar just
doesn't progress - just that rotating barber-pole stripe pattern!

My Javascript console reveals:

Error: uncaught exception: [Exception... "Component returned failure code: 0x80570015 (NS_ERROR_XPC_CI_RETURNED_FAILURE) [nsIJSCID.createInstance]"  nsresult: "0x80570015 (NS_ERROR_XPC_CI_RETURNED_FAILURE)"  location: "JS frame :: file:///usr/local/mozilla/components/nsXmlRpcClient.js :: createInstance :: line 1269"  data: no]

Error: [Exception... "Component returned failure code: 0x80570015 (NS_ERROR_XPC_CI_RETURNED_FAILURE) [nsIJSCID.createInstance]"  nsresult: "0x80570015 (NS_ERROR_XPC_CI_RETURNED_FAILURE)"  location: "JS frame :: file:///usr/local/mozilla/components/nsXmlRpcClient.js :: createInstance :: line 1269"  data: no]
Source File: file:///usr/local/mozilla/components/nsXmlRpcClient.js
Line: 1269

any ideas? I checked the Mozblog bugs but they didn't offer any help.

Thanks - it looks like it'll be VERY useful if and when I can get it working.

Peter