As an alternative, you could create a specific package, like php5-mysqlnd, and keep the current package linking to libmysqlclient. php5-mysqlnd would _not_ have the driver "mysql" (as opposed to "mysqli").
Then we wouldn't break existing installation When PHP 5.4 will be released, php5-mysqlnd would be a dummy package depending on php5-mysql. -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-bugs-dist-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org