With xdg-utils (1.0.2+cvs20100307-1) and icedove (3.0.3-1), both xdg-email --body "this is\na test" and xdg-email --body "$(printf foo\\nbar)" work.
Cheers Arthur -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [email protected] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [email protected]

