python-dateutil alternately added, removed by apt

[Jeffrey Baker]

Binary package hint: apt

Intrepid with apt 0.7.14ubuntu6 alternately wants to remove and add python-dateutil. If I invoke apt-get autoremove, apt removes the package. If I then invoke apt-get dist-upgrade, it installs it.

$ sudo apt-get autoremove
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required:
  python-dateutil
The following packages will be REMOVED:
  python-dateutil
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 1 to remove and 1 not upgraded.
After this operation, 438kB disk space will be freed.
Do you want to continue [Y/n]?
(Reading database ... 265872 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing python-dateutil ...
Processing triggers for python-support ...
$ sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Calculating upgrade... Done
The following NEW packages will be installed:
  python-dateutil
The following packages have been kept back:
  python-elisa
0 upgraded, 1 newly installed, 0 to remove and 1 not upgraded.
Need to get 0B/212kB of archives.
After this operation, 438kB of additional disk space will be used.
Do you want to continue [Y/n]?
Selecting previously deselected package python-dateutil.
(Reading database ... 265848 files and directories currently installed.)
Unpacking python-dateutil (from .../python-dateutil_1.4-1_all.deb) ...
Setting up python-dateutil (1.4-1) ...

Processing triggers for python-support ...

Apt should either take it or leave it, but it seems to be of two minds. Output of dpkg -l attached.

[Michael Vogt (mvo)]

Thanks for your bugreport.

Could you please run:
$ sudo apt-get dist-upgrade -o Debug::pkgDepCache::AutoInstall=true
and attach the output here?

[Jeffrey Baker (jwbaker)]

Unfortunately, whatever state Apt was in is now resolved. Due to new packages between then and now (I assume) apt no longer wants to install python-dateutil during dist-upgrade. I can't go back to those packages listed in my attachment, because not all of them are still in the archive.

I guess I won't be able to add much further information unless this starts happening again.

[Victor Vargas (kamus)]

According to last message I will close this report for now, Thanks.