Then it probably isn't a crash per se, but an assertion failure, and outside Kopete code.

Can you run kopete --nofork in a shell and tell us if it outputs anything strange near its end, that may indicate the reason for quitting?

here we go

XPath error : Invalid expression
 at route='inbound'
    ^
compilation error: element when
xsl:when : could not compile test expression ' at route='inbound''
XPath error : Invalid expression
 at type='normal'
    ^
compilation error: element if
xsl:if : could not compile test expression ' at type='normal''
XPath error : Invalid expression
body/ at dir='ltr'
         ^
compilation error: element if
xsl:if : could not compile test expression 'body/ at dir='ltr''
XPath error : Invalid expression
body/ at dir='rtl'
         ^
compilation error: element if
xsl:if : could not compile test expression 'body/ at dir='rtl''
XPath error : Invalid expression
from/contact/ at protocolIcon
                 ^
compilation error: element value-of
xsl:value-of : could not compile select expression 'from/contact/ at protocolIcon'
XPath error : Invalid expression
from/contact/metaContactDisplayName/ at text
                                        ^
compilation error: element value-of
xsl:value-of : could not compile select expression 'from/contact/metaContactDisplayName/ at text'
XPath error : Invalid expression
 at time
    ^
compilation error: element value-of
xsl:value-of : could not compile select expression ' at time'
XPath error : Invalid expression
 at importance='2'
    ^
compilation error: element if
xsl:if : could not compile test expression ' at importance='2''
XPath error : Invalid expression
body/ at dir='ltr'
         ^
compilation error: element if
xsl:if : could not compile test expression 'body/ at dir='ltr''
XPath error : Invalid expression
body/ at dir='rtl'
         ^
compilation error: element if
xsl:if : could not compile test expression 'body/ at dir='rtl''
XPath error : Invalid expression
body/ at color
         ^
compilation error: element if
xsl:if : could not compile test expression 'body/ at color'
XPath error : Invalid expression
body/ at color
         ^
compilation error: element value-of
xsl:value-of : could not compile select expression 'body/ at color'
XPath error : Invalid expression
body/ at bgcolor
         ^
compilation error: element if
xsl:if : could not compile test expression 'body/ at bgcolor'
XPath error : Invalid expression
body/ at bgcolor
         ^
compilation error: element value-of
xsl:value-of : could not compile select expression 'body/ at bgcolor'
XPath error : Invalid expression
body/ at font
         ^
compilation error: element if
xsl:if : could not compile test expression 'body/ at font'
XPath error : Invalid expression
body/ at font
         ^
compilation error: element value-of
xsl:value-of : could not compile select expression 'body/ at font'
XPath error : Invalid expression
 at importance='1'
    ^
compilation error: element if
xsl:if : could not compile test expression ' at importance='1''
XPath error : Invalid expression
from/contact/ at userPhoto
                 ^
compilation error: element if
xsl:if : could not compile test expression 'from/contact/ at userPhoto'
XPath error : Invalid expression
from/contact/ at userPhoto
                 ^
compilation error: element if
xsl:if : could not compile test expression 'from/contact/ at userPhoto'
XPath error : Invalid expression
from/contact/ at userPhoto
                 ^
compilation error: element value-of
xsl:value-of : could not compile select expression 'from/contact/ at userPhoto'
XPath error : Invalid expression
 at type='action'
    ^
compilation error: element if
xsl:if : could not compile test expression ' at type='action''
XPath error : Invalid expression
from/contact/metaContactDisplayName/ at text
                                        ^
compilation error: element value-of
xsl:value-of : could not compile select expression 'from/contact/metaContactDisplayName/ at text'
XPath error : Invalid expression
 at time
    ^
compilation error: element value-of
xsl:value-of : could not compile select expression ' at time'
XPath error : Invalid expression
 at route='outbound'
    ^
compilation error: element when
xsl:when : could not compile test expression ' at route='outbound''
XPath error : Invalid expression
 at type='normal'
    ^
compilation error: element if
xsl:if : could not compile test expression ' at type='normal''
XPath error : Invalid expression
body/ at dir='ltr'
         ^
compilation error: element if
xsl:if : could not compile test expression 'body/ at dir='ltr''
XPath error : Invalid expression
body/ at dir='rtl'
         ^
compilation error: element if
xsl:if : could not compile test expression 'body/ at dir='rtl''
XPath error : Invalid expression
from/contact/ at protocolIcon
                 ^
compilation error: element value-of
xsl:value-of : could not compile select expression 'from/contact/ at protocolIcon'
XPath error : Invalid expression
from/contact/metaContactDisplayName/ at text
                                        ^
compilation error: element value-of
xsl:value-of : could not compile select expression 'from/contact/metaContactDisplayName/ at text'
XPath error : Invalid expression
 at time
    ^
compilation error: element value-of
xsl:value-of : could not compile select expression ' at time'
XPath error : Invalid expression
 at importance='2'
    ^
compilation error: element if
xsl:if : could not compile test expression ' at importance='2''
XPath error : Invalid expression
body/ at dir='ltr'
         ^
compilation error: element if
xsl:if : could not compile test expression 'body/ at dir='ltr''
XPath error : Invalid expression
body/ at dir='rtl'
         ^
compilation error: element if
xsl:if : could not compile test expression 'body/ at dir='rtl''
XPath error : Invalid expression
body/ at color
         ^
compilation error: element if
xsl:if : could not compile test expression 'body/ at color'
XPath error : Invalid expression
body/ at color
         ^
compilation error: element value-of
xsl:value-of : could not compile select expression 'body/ at color'
XPath error : Invalid expression
body/ at bgcolor
         ^
compilation error: element if
xsl:if : could not compile test expression 'body/ at bgcolor'
XPath error : Invalid expression
body/ at bgcolor
         ^
compilation error: element value-of
xsl:value-of : could not compile select expression 'body/ at bgcolor'
XPath error : Invalid expression
body/ at font
         ^
compilation error: element if
xsl:if : could not compile test expression 'body/ at font'
XPath error : Invalid expression
body/ at font
         ^
compilation error: element value-of
xsl:value-of : could not compile select expression 'body/ at font'
XPath error : Invalid expression
 at importance='1'
    ^
compilation error: element if
xsl:if : could not compile test expression ' at importance='1''
XPath error : Invalid expression
from/contact/ at userPhoto
                 ^
compilation error: element if
xsl:if : could not compile test expression 'from/contact/ at userPhoto'
XPath error : Invalid expression
from/contact/ at userPhoto
                 ^
compilation error: element if
xsl:if : could not compile test expression 'from/contact/ at userPhoto'
XPath error : Invalid expression
from/contact/ at userPhoto
                 ^
compilation error: element value-of
xsl:value-of : could not compile select expression 'from/contact/ at userPhoto'
XPath error : Invalid expression
 at type='action'
    ^
compilation error: element if
xsl:if : could not compile test expression ' at type='action''
XPath error : Invalid expression
from/contact/metaContactDisplayName/ at text
                                        ^
compilation error: element value-of
xsl:value-of : could not compile select expression 'from/contact/metaContactDisplayName/ at text'
XPath error : Invalid expression
 at time
    ^
compilation error: element value-of
xsl:value-of : could not compile select expression ' at time'
XPath error : Invalid expression
 at route='internal'
    ^
compilation error: element when
xsl:when : could not compile test expression ' at route='internal''
XPath error : Invalid expression
 at time
    ^
compilation error: element value-of
xsl:value-of : could not compile select expression ' at time'
kopete: WARNING: Invalid stylesheet provided
XPath error : Invalid expression
 at route='inbound'
    ^
compilation error: element when
xsl:when : could not compile test expression ' at route='inbound''
XPath error : Invalid expression
 at type='normal'
    ^
compilation error: element if
xsl:if : could not compile test expression ' at type='normal''
XPath error : Invalid expression
body/ at dir='ltr'
         ^
compilation error: element if
xsl:if : could not compile test expression 'body/ at dir='ltr''
XPath error : Invalid expression
body/ at dir='rtl'
         ^
compilation error: element if
xsl:if : could not compile test expression 'body/ at dir='rtl''
XPath error : Invalid expression
from/contact/ at protocolIcon
                 ^
compilation error: element value-of
xsl:value-of : could not compile select expression 'from/contact/ at protocolIcon'
XPath error : Invalid expression
from/contact/metaContactDisplayName/ at text
                                        ^
compilation error: element value-of
xsl:value-of : could not compile select expression 'from/contact/metaContactDisplayName/ at text'
XPath error : Invalid expression
 at time
    ^
compilation error: element value-of
xsl:value-of : could not compile select expression ' at time'
XPath error : Invalid expression
 at importance='2'
    ^
compilation error: element if
xsl:if : could not compile test expression ' at importance='2''
XPath error : Invalid expression
body/ at dir='ltr'
         ^
compilation error: element if
xsl:if : could not compile test expression 'body/ at dir='ltr''
XPath error : Invalid expression
body/ at dir='rtl'
         ^
compilation error: element if
xsl:if : could not compile test expression 'body/ at dir='rtl''
XPath error : Invalid expression
body/ at color
         ^
compilation error: element if
xsl:if : could not compile test expression 'body/ at color'
XPath error : Invalid expression
body/ at color
         ^
compilation error: element value-of
xsl:value-of : could not compile select expression 'body/ at color'
XPath error : Invalid expression
body/ at bgcolor
         ^
compilation error: element if
xsl:if : could not compile test expression 'body/ at bgcolor'
XPath error : Invalid expression
body/ at bgcolor
         ^
compilation error: element value-of
xsl:value-of : could not compile select expression 'body/ at bgcolor'
XPath error : Invalid expression
body/ at font
         ^
compilation error: element if
xsl:if : could not compile test expression 'body/ at font'
XPath error : Invalid expression
body/ at font
         ^
compilation error: element value-of
xsl:value-of : could not compile select expression 'body/ at font'
XPath error : Invalid expression
 at importance='1'
    ^
compilation error: element if
xsl:if : could not compile test expression ' at importance='1''
XPath error : Invalid expression
from/contact/ at userPhoto
                 ^
compilation error: element if
xsl:if : could not compile test expression 'from/contact/ at userPhoto'
XPath error : Invalid expression
from/contact/ at userPhoto
                 ^
compilation error: element if
xsl:if : could not compile test expression 'from/contact/ at userPhoto'
XPath error : Invalid expression
from/contact/ at userPhoto
                 ^
compilation error: element value-of
xsl:value-of : could not compile select expression 'from/contact/ at userPhoto'
XPath error : Invalid expression
 at type='action'
    ^
compilation error: element if
xsl:if : could not compile test expression ' at type='action''
XPath error : Invalid expression
from/contact/metaContactDisplayName/ at text
                                        ^
compilation error: element value-of
xsl:value-of : could not compile select expression 'from/contact/metaContactDisplayName/ at text'
XPath error : Invalid expression
 at time
    ^
compilation error: element value-of
xsl:value-of : could not compile select expression ' at time'
XPath error : Invalid expression
 at route='outbound'
    ^
compilation error: element when
xsl:when : could not compile test expression ' at route='outbound''
XPath error : Invalid expression
 at type='normal'
    ^
compilation error: element if
xsl:if : could not compile test expression ' at type='normal''
XPath error : Invalid expression
body/ at dir='ltr'
         ^
compilation error: element if
xsl:if : could not compile test expression 'body/ at dir='ltr''
XPath error : Invalid expression
body/ at dir='rtl'
         ^
compilation error: element if
xsl:if : could not compile test expression 'body/ at dir='rtl''
XPath error : Invalid expression
from/contact/ at protocolIcon
                 ^
compilation error: element value-of
xsl:value-of : could not compile select expression 'from/contact/ at protocolIcon'
XPath error : Invalid expression
from/contact/metaContactDisplayName/ at text
                                        ^
compilation error: element value-of
xsl:value-of : could not compile select expression 'from/contact/metaContactDisplayName/ at text'
XPath error : Invalid expression
 at time
    ^
compilation error: element value-of
xsl:value-of : could not compile select expression ' at time'
XPath error : Invalid expression
 at importance='2'
    ^
compilation error: element if
xsl:if : could not compile test expression ' at importance='2''
XPath error : Invalid expression
body/ at dir='ltr'
         ^
compilation error: element if
xsl:if : could not compile test expression 'body/ at dir='ltr''
XPath error : Invalid expression
body/ at dir='rtl'
         ^
compilation error: element if
xsl:if : could not compile test expression 'body/ at dir='rtl''
XPath error : Invalid expression
body/ at color
         ^
compilation error: element if
xsl:if : could not compile test expression 'body/ at color'
XPath error : Invalid expression
body/ at color
         ^
compilation error: element value-of
xsl:value-of : could not compile select expression 'body/ at color'
XPath error : Invalid expression
body/ at bgcolor
         ^
compilation error: element if
xsl:if : could not compile test expression 'body/ at bgcolor'
XPath error : Invalid expression
body/ at bgcolor
         ^
compilation error: element value-of
xsl:value-of : could not compile select expression 'body/ at bgcolor'
XPath error : Invalid expression
body/ at font
         ^
compilation error: element if
xsl:if : could not compile test expression 'body/ at font'
XPath error : Invalid expression
body/ at font
         ^
compilation error: element value-of
xsl:value-of : could not compile select expression 'body/ at font'
XPath error : Invalid expression
 at importance='1'
    ^
compilation error: element if
xsl:if : could not compile test expression ' at importance='1''
XPath error : Invalid expression
from/contact/ at userPhoto
                 ^
compilation error: element if
xsl:if : could not compile test expression 'from/contact/ at userPhoto'
XPath error : Invalid expression
from/contact/ at userPhoto
                 ^
compilation error: element if
xsl:if : could not compile test expression 'from/contact/ at userPhoto'
XPath error : Invalid expression
from/contact/ at userPhoto
                 ^
compilation error: element value-of
xsl:value-of : could not compile select expression 'from/contact/ at userPhoto'
XPath error : Invalid expression
 at type='action'
    ^
compilation error: element if
xsl:if : could not compile test expression ' at type='action''
XPath error : Invalid expression
from/contact/metaContactDisplayName/ at text
                                        ^
compilation error: element value-of
xsl:value-of : could not compile select expression 'from/contact/metaContactDisplayName/ at text'
XPath error : Invalid expression
 at time
    ^
compilation error: element value-of
xsl:value-of : could not compile select expression ' at time'
XPath error : Invalid expression
 at route='internal'
    ^
compilation error: element when
xsl:when : could not compile test expression ' at route='internal''
XPath error : Invalid expression
 at time
    ^
compilation error: element value-of
xsl:value-of : could not compile select expression ' at time'
kopete: WARNING: Invalid stylesheet provided
QObject::connect: Cannot connect (null)::isConnectedChanged() to Kopete::Contact::slotAccountIsConnectedChanged()
QObject::connect: Cannot connect (null)::isConnectedChanged() to Kopete::Contact::slotAccountIsConnectedChanged()
QObject::connect: Cannot connect (null)::isConnectedChanged() to Kopete::Contact::slotAccountIsConnectedChanged()
QObject::connect: Cannot connect (null)::isConnectedChanged() to Kopete::Contact::slotAccountIsConnectedChanged()
KCrash: Application 'kopete' crashing...
ng@bobbeldorsch:~$                         

Sorry for spamming but lovely KCrash did just appear, that's the backtrace:

(no debugging symbols found)
Using host libthread_db library "/lib/tls/i686/cmov/libthread_db.so.1".
(no debugging symbols found)
`system-supplied DSO at 0xffffe000' has disappeared; keeping its symbols.
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
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(no debugging symbols found)
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(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
[Thread debugging using libthread_db enabled]
[New Thread -1208068352 (LWP 15340)]
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
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[KCrash handler]
#4  0x4947ef1e in QMemArray<QPoint>::detach () from /usr/lib/libkhtml.so.4
#5  0x494985ca in QMemArray<QPoint>::detach () from /usr/lib/libkhtml.so.4
#6  0x494312d8 in QPtrDict<QWidget>::deleteItem () from /usr/lib/libkhtml.so.4
#7  0x49436d06 in QPtrDict<QWidget>::deleteItem () from /usr/lib/libkhtml.so.4
#8  0x49449bd3 in KStaticDeleter<QPtrList<DOM::DocumentImpl> >::~KStaticDeleter
    () from /usr/lib/libkhtml.so.4
#9  0x49449969 in KStaticDeleter<QPtrList<DOM::DocumentImpl> >::~KStaticDeleter
    () from /usr/lib/libkhtml.so.4
#10 0x49452355 in KStaticDeleter<QPtrList<DOM::DocumentImpl> >::~KStaticDeleter
    () from /usr/lib/libkhtml.so.4
#11 0x494503bb in KStaticDeleter<QPtrList<DOM::DocumentImpl> >::~KStaticDeleter
    () from /usr/lib/libkhtml.so.4
#12 0x49451870 in KStaticDeleter<QPtrList<DOM::DocumentImpl> >::~KStaticDeleter
    () from /usr/lib/libkhtml.so.4
#13 0x493f019f in KHTMLPart::write () from /usr/lib/libkhtml.so.4
#14 0xb79da49b in AppearanceConfig::slotUpdatePreview ()
   from /usr/lib/kde3/kcm_kopete_appearanceconfig.so
#15 0xb79d7d96 in AppearanceConfig::slotStyleSelected ()
   from /usr/lib/kde3/kcm_kopete_appearanceconfig.so
#16 0xb79dadd2 in AppearanceConfig::qt_invoke ()
   from /usr/lib/kde3/kcm_kopete_appearanceconfig.so
#17 0x42df4067 in QObject::activate_signal () from /usr/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#18 0x4311ee16 in QListBox::selectionChanged () from /usr/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#19 0x42ebf8d3 in QListBox::setSelected () from /usr/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#20 0x42ebcf38 in QListBox::mousePressEventEx () from /usr/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#21 0x42ebce14 in QListBox::mousePressEvent () from /usr/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#22 0x42e277d8 in QWidget::event () from /usr/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#23 0x42d9c370 in QApplication::internalNotify () from /usr/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#24 0x42d9bac7 in QApplication::notify () from /usr/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#25 0x4884f920 in KApplication::notify () from /usr/lib/libkdecore.so.4
#26 0x42d3512f in QETWidget::translateMouseEvent () from /usr/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#27 0x42d32e1c in QApplication::x11ProcessEvent () from /usr/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#28 0x42d48ec2 in QEventLoop::processEvents () from /usr/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#29 0x42dad74c in QEventLoop::enterLoop () from /usr/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#30 0x42dad60e in QEventLoop::exec () from /usr/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#31 0x42d9c57b in QApplication::exec () from /usr/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#32 0x0806f0ec in ?? ()
#33 0xbffff6b0 in ?? ()
#34 0xbffff690 in ?? ()
#35 0xbffff690 in ?? ()
#36 0x00000000 in ?? ()
#37 0x080bb04a in _IO_stdin_used ()
#38 0x00000001 in ?? ()
#39 0x080bc360 in _IO_stdin_used ()
#40 0x080bac26 in _IO_stdin_used ()
#41 0x080bac10 in _IO_stdin_used ()
#42 0x080babfc in _IO_stdin_used ()
#43 0x00000001 in ?? ()
#44 0xbffff6a8 in ?? ()
#45 0x43212ee0 in vtable for QGArray () from /usr/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#46 0x082cb608 in ?? ()
#47 0x0000000d in ?? ()
#48 0x41f2e214 in ?? () from /usr/lib/libstdc++.so.5
#49 0x43212ee0 in vtable for QGArray () from /usr/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#50 0x0813fab8 in ?? ()
#51 0xbffff6d8 in ?? ()
#52 0x41f0c6ae in operator new () from /usr/lib/libstdc++.so.5
#53 0x4685a8c8 in __libc_start_main () from /lib/tls/i686/cmov/libc.so.6
#54 0x0806ea91 in ?? ()

still valid with kde 3.4.2 ( kopete 0.10.3 )

here is the output i get

kopete: RenderCanvas(1): 0x865ff78  nl rmm zI: auto  <> (0,0,0,0) [0-0] { mT: 0 qT: 0 mB: 0 qB: 0} layer=0x8660030
kopete:   RenderBlock(1): 0x866008c  nl rmm  <html> (0,-500000,0,0) [-1--1] { mT: 0 qT: 0 mB: 0 qB: 0} layer=0x8660104
kopete:     RenderBody(1): 0x8660160  nl rmm zI: auto  <body> (0,-500000,0,0) [-1--1] { mT: 0 qT: 0 mB: 0 qB: 0}
kopete:       RenderBlock(1): 0x86601d8  nl rmm zI: auto  <div> (0,-500000,0,0) [-1--1] { mT: 0 qT: 0 mB: 0 qB: 0}
kopete:         RenderTable(1): 0x866027c  ci an nl rmm zI: auto  (0,-500000,0,0) [-1--1] { mT: 0 qT: 0 mB: 0 qB: 0}
kopete:           RenderTableCol(1): 0x8660250  il nl rmm zI: auto  <div> (0,0,0,0) [0-0] { mT: 0 qT: 0 mB: 0 qB: 0}
 this object = 0x8660250, [
0: /opt/kde3.5/lib/libkdecore.so.4(_Z11kdBacktracei+0x38) [0xb6cee166]
1: /opt/kde3.5/lib/libkdecore.so.4(_Z11kdBacktracev+0x26) [0xb6cee41c]
2: /opt/kde3.5/lib/libkhtml.so.4(_ZN5khtml14RenderTableCol8addChildEPNS_12RenderObjectES2_+0x78) [0xb7a69bda]
3: /opt/kde3.5/lib/libkhtml.so.4(_ZN3DOM8NodeImpl22createRendererIfNeededEv+0x1c7) [0xb79ce351]
4: /opt/kde3.5/lib/libkhtml.so.4(_ZN3DOM11ElementImpl6attachEv+0xc2) [0xb79d53f6]
5: /opt/kde3.5/lib/libkhtml.so.4(_ZN5khtml11KHTMLParser10insertNodeEPN3DOM8NodeImplEb+0xa9) [0xb79e99a9]
6: /opt/kde3.5/lib/libkhtml.so.4(_ZN5khtml11KHTMLParser10parseTokenEPNS_5TokenE+0x2e5) [0xb79e986d]
7: /opt/kde3.5/lib/libkhtml.so.4(_ZN5khtml13HTMLTokenizer12processTokenEv+0x14b) [0xb79f3253]
8: /opt/kde3.5/lib/libkhtml.so.4(_ZN5khtml13HTMLTokenizer8parseTagERNS_15TokenizerStringE+0x1d9b) [0xb79f1bd7]
9: /opt/kde3.5/lib/libkhtml.so.4(_ZN5khtml13HTMLTokenizer5writeERKNS_15TokenizerStringEb+0x482) [0xb79f2554]
10: /opt/kde3.5/lib/libkhtml.so.4(_ZN9KHTMLPart5writeERK7QString+0xaf) [0xb7973879]
11: /opt/kde/lib/kde3/kcm_kopete_appearanceconfig.so(_ZN16AppearanceConfig17slotUpdatePreviewEv+0x7a0) [0xb2e09026]
12: /opt/kde/lib/kde3/kcm_kopete_appearanceconfig.so(_ZN16AppearanceConfig17slotStyleSelectedEv+0x145) [0xb2e06eef]
13: /opt/kde/lib/kde3/kcm_kopete_appearanceconfig.so(_ZN16AppearanceConfig9qt_invokeEiP8QUObject+0x137) [0xb2e09951]
14: /opt/qt/lib/libqt-mt.so.3(_ZN7QObject15activate_signalEP15QConnectionListP8QUObject+0x144) [0xb6693514]
15: /opt/qt/lib/libqt-mt.so.3(_ZN8QListBox16selectionChangedEP12QListBoxItem+0xa0) [0xb69f9d40]
16: /opt/qt/lib/libqt-mt.so.3(_ZN8QListBox11setSelectedEP12QListBoxItemb+0x271) [0xb6770081]
17: /opt/qt/lib/libqt-mt.so.3(_ZN8QListBox17mousePressEventExEP11QMouseEvent+0x130) [0xb67724e0]
18: /opt/qt/lib/libqt-mt.so.3(_ZN8QListBox15mousePressEventEP11QMouseEvent+0x24) [0xb6772a74]
19: /opt/qt/lib/libqt-mt.so.3(_ZN7QWidget5eventEP6QEvent+0x467) [0xb66cd0b7]
20: /opt/qt/lib/libqt-mt.so.3(_ZN12QApplication14internalNotifyEP7QObjectP6QEvent+0x8f) [0xb662fabf]
21: /opt/qt/lib/libqt-mt.so.3(_ZN12QApplication6notifyEP7QObjectP6QEvent+0x2aa) [0xb662fe7a]
22: /opt/kde3.5/lib/libkdecore.so.4(_ZN12KApplication6notifyEP7QObjectP6QEvent+0x610) [0xb6cd7e70]
23: /opt/qt/lib/libqt-mt.so.3(_ZN9QETWidget19translateMouseEventEPK7_XEvent+0xcf6) [0xb65c90c6]
24: /opt/qt/lib/libqt-mt.so.3(_ZN12QApplication15x11ProcessEventEP7_XEvent+0x4bf) [0xb65c736f]
25: /opt/qt/lib/libqt-mt.so.3(_ZN10QEventLoop13processEventsEj+0x105) [0xb65daf15]
26: /opt/qt/lib/libqt-mt.so.3(_ZN10QEventLoop9enterLoopEv+0x51) [0xb6646191]
27: /opt/qt/lib/libqt-mt.so.3(_ZN10QEventLoop4execEv+0x26) [0xb66460e6]
28: /opt/qt/lib/libqt-mt.so.3(_ZN12QApplication4execEv+0x1f) [0xb662ec2f]
29: kopete(_ZN7QWidget22windowActivationChangeEb+0x855) [0x8073191]
30: /lib/tls/libc.so.6(__libc_start_main+0xdd) [0xb5e0719d]
31: kopete(_ZN6QFrame10paintEventEP11QPaintEvent+0x45) [0x80729d1]
]
kopete: ../../../kdelibs/khtml/rendering/render_table.cpp:2623: virtual void khtml::RenderTableCol::addChild(khtml::RenderObject*, khtml::RenderObject*): Assertion `child->style()->display() == TABLE_COLUMN' failed.
KCrash: crashing... crashRecursionCounter = 2
KCrash: Application Name = kopete path = <unknown> pid = 11978

------------------------------
here is the backtrace

#11 0xb5e13cb1 in __assert_fail () from /lib/tls/libc.so.6
#12 0xb7a69c4e in khtml::RenderTableCol::addChild (this=0x8660250, child=0x8660324, beforeChild=0x0) at ../../../kdelibs/khtml/rendering/render_table.cpp:2623
#13 0xb79ce351 in DOM::NodeImpl::createRendererIfNeeded (this=0x84f4958) at ../../../kdelibs/khtml/xml/dom_nodeimpl.cpp:964
#14 0xb79d53f6 in DOM::ElementImpl::attach (this=0x84f4958) at ../../../kdelibs/khtml/xml/dom_elementimpl.cpp:494
#15 0xb79e99a9 in khtml::KHTMLParser::insertNode (this=0x86ee8f8, n=0x84f4958, flat=false) at ../../../kdelibs/khtml/html/htmlparser.cpp:337
#16 0xb79e986d in khtml::KHTMLParser::parseToken (this=0x86ee8f8, t=0x874f774) at ../../../kdelibs/khtml/html/htmlparser.cpp:289
#17 0xb79f3253 in khtml::HTMLTokenizer::processToken (this=0x874f740) at ../../../kdelibs/khtml/html/htmltokenizer.cpp:1680
#18 0xb79f1bd7 in khtml::HTMLTokenizer::parseTag (this=0x874f740, src=@0x874f870) at ../../../kdelibs/khtml/html/htmltokenizer.cpp:1180
#19 0xb79f2554 in khtml::HTMLTokenizer::write (this=0x874f740, str=@0xbf910510, appendData=true) at ../../../kdelibs/khtml/html/htmltokenizer.cpp:1439
#20 0xb7973879 in KHTMLPart::write (this=0x86c9890, str=@0xbf9105c0) at ../../kdelibs/khtml/khtml_part.cpp:1979
#21 0xb2e09026 in AppearanceConfig::slotUpdatePreview (this=0x86fcb48) at appearanceconfig.cpp:810
#22 0xb2e06eef in AppearanceConfig::slotStyleSelected (this=0x86fcb48) at appearanceconfig.cpp:593

and here is the html, which is passed to write()

<?xml version="1.0" standalone="yes"?>
<div class="KopeteMessage" style=" &#10;                      border: 1px solid #C80000; &#10;                      border-left-width: 3px; &#10;                   "><div id="MessageHeader" style=" &#10;                            padding-left: 1ex; &#10;                            padding-right: 1ex; &#10;                            border-bottom: 0.1em solid #afafff; &#10; display: table-column; &#10; &#10;                            text-align: left;"><div style="float: left;"><img style="margin-top: 0.1em; margin-right: 1ex;" src="/home/kde/.kde/share/icons/nuvola/16x16/apps/kopete.png"/></div><div><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;">Jack</span><div style="float: right; font-weight: normal;">17:36:31</div></div></div><div id="MessageBody" class="" style=" &#10;                            padding-left: 1ex; &#10;                            padding-right: 1ex; &#10;                            padding-top: 0.25em; &#10;                            padding-bottom: 0.5em; &#10;                            line-height: 1.2;display: table-column; &#10; &#10;                            text-align: left;">Hello, this is an incoming message <img align="center" src="/home/kde/.kde/share/emoticons/Default-small/smile.png" title=":-)" width="16" height="16" /></div></div>


<div class="KopeteMessage" style="margin-top: 5px;"><div id="MessageHeader" style=" &#10;                            padding-left: 1ex; &#10;                            padding-right: 1ex; &#10;                            border-bottom: 0.1em solid #ffafaf; &#10; &#10;                            text-align: left;"><div style="float: left;"><img style="margin-top: 0.1em; margin-right: 1ex;" src="/home/kde/.kde/share/icons/nuvola/16x16/apps/kopete.png"/></div><div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Myself</span><div style="float: right; font-weight: normal;">17:36:31</div></div></div><div id="MessageBody" class="" style=" &#10;                            padding-left: 1ex; &#10;                            padding-right: 1ex; &#10;                            padding-top: 0.25em; &#10;                            padding-bottom: 0.5em; &#10;                            line-height: 1.2; &#10; &#10;                            text-align: left;">Ok, this is an outgoing message</div></div>


<div class="KopeteMessage" style=" &#10;                      border: 1px solid #C80000; &#10;                      border-left-width: 3px; &#10;                   "><div id="MessageHeader" style=" &#10;                            padding-left: 1ex; &#10;                            padding-right: 1ex; &#10;                            border-bottom: 0.1em solid #afafff; &#10; display: table-column; &#10; &#10;                            text-align: left;"><div style="float: left;"><img style="margin-top: 0.1em; margin-right: 1ex;" src="/home/kde/.kde/share/icons/nuvola/16x16/apps/kopete.png"/></div><div><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;">Jack</span><div style="float: right; font-weight: normal;">17:36:31</div></div></div><div id="MessageBody" class="" style=" &#10;                            padding-left: 1ex; &#10;                            padding-right: 1ex; &#10;                            padding-top: 0.25em; &#10;                            padding-bottom: 0.5em; &#10;                            line-height: 1.2;display: table-column; &#10; &#10;                            text-align: left;color: #1e90ff;background-color: #b0c4de;">Here is an incoming colored message</div></div>


<div class="KopeteMessage" style="margin-top: 5px;"><div id="MessageHeader" style="padding-left: 1ex; padding-right: 1ex; border-bottom: 0.1em dashed #afffaf;"><div style="float: left;"><img style="margin-top: 0.1em; margin-right: 1ex;" src="/home/ng/System/Look/Kopete/data/Clean/internal.png"/></div><div><span>This is an internal message</span><div style="float: right; font-weight: normal;">17:36:31</div></div></div></div>


<div class="KopeteMessagekopete:



it is a problem of khtml which shouldn't crash, even if the html is not valid

Message from the Bugsquad and Konqueror teams:
This bug is closed as outdated, as we do not have the manpower to maintain the KDE3 version anymore.
If you still can reproduce this issue with Konqueror 4.8.4 or later, please open a new report.
Thank you for your understanding.