API for mouse events?

I was just wondering, I'm running linux and it doesn't seem to recognize my mouses extra buttons. I've configured it inside of the x11 files but it doesn't do anything, though the test programs show input.

Is there a place to find information about watching for mouse input. Also would it be feasable task for a novice programmer, myself, to write a program that runs in the taskbar and watches for mouse input, and then sends the appropriate click?

Hope that all makes sense. I basically want to do the following...

On (Mouse button 10 HIT)
return CNTRL+LEFT
On (Mouse button 11 HIT)
return CNTRL+RIGHT

Though I think the last time I looked into my mouse sends two signals instead of one for those two buttons like sending 1 and 5 at the same time instead of 10. Thanks again!