Cannot make update-alternatives do what I want

[Ken Heard <kenslists@teksavvy.com>]

In my Wheezy machine I use Iceweasel 31.2.0 as my primary web browser. 
I also have an Lenny version -- I think -- of Iceape installed because I 
wanted a simple html composer.  Unfortunately to have Iceape composer I 
must install Iceape suite which also includes a browser.

So both browsers are mentioned in the x-www-browser section of 
/etc/alternatives.  The Iceape browser is the "auto" selection, and the 
Iceweasel browser is listed as a "manual" alternative.

Command "update-alternatives --config x-www-browser" ostensibly allows 
me to change to the preferred "manual" browser by selecting it.  I did 
so but when for example I want to go to a website mentioned in an email 
(I use Icedove as my email client) the Iceape browser is still used for 
that purpose.  I tried exiting my user and logging in again -- and also 
rebooting the machine -- to no avail.  Checking the browser selection in 
alternatives is still the one I selected, namely Iceweasel, not Iceape.

Is there something I need to do to make this change work?

Regards, Ken