Comment 3 for bug 673636

the 0:5.1.51-1.glibc23 package must have been from the mysql client I had previously installed, I un-installed it and was able to complete the mysql server install without any further issues. I made it as far as setting up the root password before the error, and once mysql client was gone it finished quickly.

I'm guessing the strange order I did things was what caused the error. Hope this was helpful.