Bug#78740: Severe apt/debconf/dpkg problem

[Paul van Loosdrecht <p.van.loosdrecht@phys.rug.nl>]

Package: apt
Version: 0.3.19

Package: debconf
Version: 0.5.31

Package: dpkg
Version: 1.7.2

When I invoke `apt-get upgrade' or `dselect [i]nstall' the
preconfiguring hangs. The message printed is:
   
  preconfiguring packages ..
  /var/lib/debconf/config.273853: [: -eq: unary operator expected

I am using Debian GNU/Linux woody, kernel 2.2.18-ide
and libc6 2.2-4.

Please help,

Cheers,

Paul.
-- 

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
%    Dr. Paul van Loosdrecht
%    University of Groningen
%    Laboratory of Solid State Physics
%    Nijenborgh 4
%    9747 AG Groningen, the Netherlands.
%    e-mail: P.van.Loosdrecht@phys.rug.nl
%    phone: +(31)50-3638149
%    FAX: +(31)50-3634879
%    secretary: +(31)50-3634826
%    homepage: http://vsf1.phys.rug.nl/~wwwopt/
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%