difficulty starting mysql server

[rb <rb@panix.com>]

I installed mysql-server 4.0.17 a while ago (Unstable). When I try to
start the server, I get the following:

$ mysqld_safe --user=mysql &
[1] 687
$ Starting mysqld daemon with databases from /var/lib/mysql
/usr/bin/mysqld_safe: line 300: /var/log/mysql/mysql.err: Permission denied
/usr/bin/mysqld_safe: line 1: /var/log/mysql/mysql.err: Permission denied
tee: /var/log/mysql/mysql.err: Permission denied
041201 17:05:41  mysqld ended
tee: /var/log/mysql/mysql.err: Permission denied


[1]+  Exit 1                  mysqld_safe --user=mysql

This is without having modified grant tables, set users or set
passwords. 

Any help in getting the server working would be greatly appreciated. 

rb
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