Bug#295428: FTBFS: autoconf bug?

[Martin Orr <martin@martinorr.name>]

Package: apache2
Severity: serious
Justification: no longer builds from source

I have built recently built versions 2.0.53-{1,2,3} of apache2 successfully.
However version 2.0.53-4 fails, the output ending with:
checking whether we are using GNU C... yes
checking whether gcc accepts -g... (cached) yes
checking how to run the C preprocessor... gcc -E
checking for external PCRE library...
/home/l4545/src/henry-packages/apache2/apache2-2.0.53-4.henry.1/build-tree/apache2/configure:
line 2675: syntax error near unexpected token AC_LANG_PROGRAM'
/home/l4545/src/henry-packages/apache2/apache2-2.0.53-4.henry.1/build-tree/apache2/configure:
line 2675:     AC_COMPILE_IFELSE(AC_LANG_PROGRAM([[#include <pcre.h>]],'
make[1]: Entering directory
/home/l4545/src/henry-packages/apache2/apache2-2.0.53-4.henry.1/build-tree/apache2-build/prefork'
make[1]: *** No targets specified and no makefile found.  Stop.
make[1]: Leaving directory
/home/l4545/src/henry-packages/apache2/apache2-2.0.53-4.henry.1/build-tree/apache2-build/prefork'
touch debian/stampdir/build-mpms

(In fact, a similar error occurs when running configure for every MPM, but
these errors do not lead to make exiting since the various steps in
configuring/building each MPM are chained together with ; instead of &&).

I include the full output of buildconf since I think the undefined macro
AC_LANG_PROGRAM is relevant:
rebuilding srclib/apr/configure
buildconf: checking installation...
buildconf: autoconf version 2.59 (ok)
buildconf: libtool version 1.5.6 (ok)
Copying libtool helper files ...
buildconf: Using libtool.m4 at /usr/share/aclocal/libtool.m4.
Creating include/arch/unix/apr_private.h.in ...
autoheader2.50: WARNING: Using auxiliary files such as acconfig.h',
config.h.bot'
autoheader2.50: WARNING: and config.h.top', to define templates for
config.h.in'
autoheader2.50: WARNING: is deprecated and discouraged.
autoheader2.50:
autoheader2.50: WARNING: Using the third argument of AC_DEFINE' and
autoheader2.50: WARNING: AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED' allows to define a template
without
autoheader2.50: WARNING: acconfig.h':
autoheader2.50:
autoheader2.50: WARNING:   AC_DEFINE([NEED_FUNC_MAIN], 1,
autoheader2.50:                 [Define if a function main' is needed.])
autoheader2.50:
autoheader2.50: WARNING: More sophisticated templates can also be produced,
see the
autoheader2.50: WARNING: documentation.
Creating configure ...
rebuilding rpm spec file
rebuilding srclib/apr-util/configure

Looking for apr source in ../apr
Creating include/private/apu_config.h ...
Creating configure ...
Invoking xml/expat/buildconf.sh ...
Incorporating /usr/share/aclocal/libtool.m4 into aclocal.m4 ...
Copying libtool helper files ...
Creating config.h.in ...
autoheader2.50: WARNING: Using auxiliary files such as acconfig.h',
config.h.bot'
autoheader2.50: WARNING: and config.h.top', to define templates for
config.h.in'
autoheader2.50: WARNING: is deprecated and discouraged.
autoheader2.50:
autoheader2.50: WARNING: Using the third argument of AC_DEFINE' and
autoheader2.50: WARNING: AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED' allows to define a template
without
autoheader2.50: WARNING: acconfig.h':
autoheader2.50:
autoheader2.50: WARNING:   AC_DEFINE([NEED_FUNC_MAIN], 1,
autoheader2.50:                 [Define if a function main' is needed.])
autoheader2.50:
autoheader2.50: WARNING: More sophisticated templates can also be produced,
see the
autoheader2.50: WARNING: documentation.
Creating configure ...
rebuilding rpm spec file
copying build files
fixing timestamps for mod_ssl sources
rebuilding srclib/pcre/configure
rebuilding include/ap_config_auto.h.in
rebuilding configure
autoconf: Undefined macros:
***BUG in Autoconf--please report*** AC_LANG_PROGRAM
rebuilding rpm spec file


-- System Information:
Debian Release: 3.1
  APT prefers unstable
  APT policy: (990, 'unstable'), (500, 'testing'), (1, 'experimental')
Architecture: i386 (i686)
Kernel: Linux 2.4.29
Locale: LANG=C, LC_CTYPE=C (charmap=ANSI_X3.4-1968)

Installed versions of relevant packages:
||/ Name             Version          Description
+++-================-================-================================================
ii  autoconf         2.59a-3          automatic configure script builder
ii  autotools-dev    20041130.2       Update infrastructure for config.{guess,sub} fil
ii  libtool          1.5.6-4          Generic library support script

-- 
Martin Orr
Linux Administrator,
Methodist College Belfast