install problem

Hi there,

I've just been trying to install Postgresql 7.2.2 on Debian Sid/Unstable
and have been repeatedly failed to do so. I believe the problem is
related to there being "Unknown id: -" The download is fine (no
dependency problems), then the configuration script asks me for default
encoding (SQL_ASCII) and locale (C). All is fine so far. The automated
install script is:

su - postgres -c cd /var/lib/postgres; . ./.profile; LANG=C initdb
--encoding SQL_ASCII --pgdata /var/lib/postgres/data

The next line says:
Unknown id: -
dpkg: error processing postgresql (--configure)
    subprocess post-installation script returned error exit status 1

This is not the first time I've installed Postgresql, but it is the
first time I've come across this problem or any other installation
problem for that matter.
(NB: This may be a Debian related bug. If so, my apologies for sending
to this list. But I am unsure as to what the problem is here.)

regards,
sol