package postgresql-8.4 8.4.4-0ubuntu10.04 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess new pre-removal script returned error exit status 1

root@portable-evil:~# aptitude upgrade
W: The "upgrade" command is deprecated; use "safe-upgrade" instead.
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Reading extended state information
Initializing package states... Done
The following packages will be upgraded:
  postgresql-8.4
1 packages upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Need to get 0B/4,050kB of archives. After unpacking 922kB will be used.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n/?] y
Writing extended state information... Done
(Reading database ... 282650 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to replace postgresql-8.4 8.4.4-0ubuntu10.04 (using .../postgresql-8.4_8.4.5-0ubuntu10.04_amd64.deb) ...
 * Stopping PostgreSQL 8.4 database server * Error: Could not create log file /var/log/postgresql/postgresql-8.4-main.log
                                                                                                                                                                                        [fail]
invoke-rc.d: initscript postgresql-8.4, action "stop" failed.
dpkg: warning: old pre-removal script returned error exit status 1
dpkg - trying script from the new package instead ...
 * Stopping PostgreSQL 8.4 database server * Error: Could not create log file /var/log/postgresql/postgresql-8.4-main.log
                                                                                                                                                                                        [fail]
invoke-rc.d: initscript postgresql-8.4, action "stop" failed.
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/postgresql-8.4_8.4.5-0ubuntu10.04_amd64.deb (--unpack):
 subprocess new pre-removal script returned error exit status 1
Errors were encountered while processing:
 /var/cache/apt/archives/postgresql-8.4_8.4.5-0ubuntu10.04_amd64.deb
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
A package failed to install. Trying to recover:
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Reading extended state information
Initializing package states... Done