Apt-get install showing: errors were encounterd while processing: docutils-common python-docutils golismero

Trying to install anything with sudo apt-get install, I receive this error:

Errors were encountered while processing:
docutils-common
python-docutils
golismero
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

The complete output from sudo apt-get -f install:

Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required: hardening-includes libandroid-properties1 libasn1-8-heimdal libasn1-8-heimdal:i386 libdouble-conversion1v5 libgssapi3-heimdal libgssapi3-heimdal:i386 libhardware2 libhcrypto4-heimdal libhcrypto4-heimdal:i386 libheimbase1-heimdal libheimbase1-heimdal:i386 libheimntlm0-heimdal libheimntlm0-heimdal:i386 libhud2 libhx509-5-heimdal libhx509-5-heimdal:i386 libhybris libhybris-common1 libkrb5-26-heimdal libkrb5-26-heimdal:i386 libmeanwhile1 libmedia1 libmng2 libqt5feedback5 libqt5positioning5 libqt5quicktest5 libqt5test5 libroken18-heimdal libroken18-heimdal:i386 libsqlite3-0:i386 libunity-action-qt1 libwind0-heimdal libwind0-heimdal:i386 libx86-1 libzephyr4 linux-headers-4.4.0-51 linux-headers-4.4.0-51-generic linux-image-4.4.0-51-generic linux-image-extra-4.4.0-51-generic linux-signed-image-4.4.0-51-generic pidgin-data plainbox-provider-checkbox plainbox-provider-resource-generic plainbox-secure-policy pm-utils pyotherside python3-checkbox-support python3-guacamole python3-jinja2 python3-padme python3-plainbox python3-xlsxwriter qml-module-io-thp-pyotherside qml-module-qt-labs-folderlistmodel qml-module-qt-labs-settings qml-module-qtfeedback qml-module-qtgraphicaleffects qml-module-qtquick-layouts qml-module-qtquick-window2 qml-module-qtquick2 qml-module-qttest qml-module-qtwebkit qml-module-ubuntu-onlineaccounts qml-module-ubuntu-performancemetrics qmlscene qtdeclarative5-accounts-plugin qtdeclarative5-dev-tools qtdeclarative5-qtquick2-plugin qtdeclarative5-test-plugin qtdeclarative5-unity-action-plugin suru-icon-theme ubuntu-core-launcher ubuntu-mobile-icons ubuntu-ui-toolkit-theme vbetool
Use 'sudo apt autoremove' to remove them.
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
3 not fully installed or removed.
After this operation, 0 B of additional disk space will be used.
Setting up docutils-common (0.12+dfsg-2) ...
Unknown option: sort
Usage: update-xmlcatalog <options> --add --root --type <type> \ --id <id> --package <package> update-xmlcatalog <options> --del --root --type <type> \ --id <id> update-xmlcatalog <options> --add --package <package> --type <type> \ --id <id> --local <local> update-xmlcatalog <options> --del --package <package> --type <type> \ --id <id> update-xmlcatalog <options> --add --local <local> --type <type> \ --id <id> --file <file> update-xmlcatalog <options> --del --local <local> --type <type> \ --id <id> update-xmlcatalog --help
With: --file <file> = a local filename --id <id> = catalog entry idenitifier --local <local> = a local XML catalog --package <package> = a package XML catalog --root = the root XML catalog (= /etc/xml/catalog) --type <type> = catalog entry type (= public, system, uri)
Options: --verbose = be verbose
dpkg: error processing package docutils-common (--configure): subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of python-docutils: python-docutils depends on docutils-common (= 0.12+dfsg-2); however: Package docutils-common is not configured yet.
dpkg: error processing package python-docutils (--configure): dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of golismero: golismero depends on python-docutils; however: Package python-docutils is not configured yet.
dpkg: error processing package golismero (--configure): dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
No apport report written because the error message indicates its a followup error from a previous failure. No apport report written because the error message indicates its a followup error from a previous failure. Processing triggers for sgml-base (1.29) ...
Errors were encountered while processing: docutils-common python-docutils golismero
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

1 Answer

Try to force remove the packages docutils-common python-docutils golismero

1. First remove the packages form dpkg/info directory

   sudo rm /var/lib/dpkg/info/docutils-common* python-docutils* golismero*

2. Then use --force-remove to remove them all completely

   sudo dpkg --remove --force-remove-reinstreq docutils-common python-docutils golismero