xxgdb exit with "read from gdb: Input/output error"

Release of Ubuntu: Precise, 12.04
Package Version: 1.12-17 , it's the same version that the one in natty, oneiric & quantal
Expected Results: xxgdb should work
Actual Results: it fails when trying to debug a program

xxgdb exit with the message "read from gdb: Input/output error" when trying to debug a program

[Testcase]

1.- download the snippet attached «hiworld.c»
2.- compile it, $ gcc -g hiworld.c -o hiworld
3.- try to debug it to `xxgdb` $ xxgdb ./hiworld

Warning: Cannot convert string "variable" to type FontStruct
read from gdb: Input/output error

terminal-emulator: `rxvt-unicode` 9.14-1