update-manager Could not initialize the package information

[Robert O'Brien]

Currently using 12.04 LTS and was hoping to trigger a distribution upgrade to 14.04.5 LTS so ran the 'Software Up to Date' from the GUI menu but got the error in 4 below ....
1) lsb_release -rd
Description: Ubuntu 12.04 LTS
Release: 12.04
2) apt-cache policy update-manager
E: Encountered a section with no Package: header
E: Problem with MergeList /var/lib/apt/lists/fr.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise_universe_binary-i386_Packages
E: The package lists or status file could not be parsed or open
3) Was expecting a prompt to upgrade to 14.04.5 LTS
4) Got the following error:
Could not initialize the package information

An unresolvable problem occurred while initializing the package information.

Please report this bug against the 'update-manager' package and include the following error message:

'E:Encountered a section with no Package: header, E:Problem with MergeList /var/lib/apt/lists/fr.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise_universe_binary-i386_Packages, E:The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.'

[Ubuntu Foundations Team Bug Bot (crichton)]

Thank you for taking the time to report this bug and helping to make Ubuntu better. Reviewing your bug report it seems that you are experiencing bug 346386. This issue happens when you have tried to update your package information when you are a network that didn't return the right files. This issue can be cleaned up by using the following commands in a terminal:

1.) sudo rm /var/lib/apt/lists/*
2.) sudo apt-get update

Thanks and good luck!

[This is an automated message. I apologize if it reached you inappropriately; please reopen the bug task if it was incorrect.]