Hi, this bug can be closed. Apparently installing ibus-gtk3 and rebooting the system solved the problem. I don't know why the reboot was required, but anyway it works now.
My apologies for opening this bug report without trying out the above. It can be closed. -- V.Harishankar B.E.(EEE), B.L., Advocate -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-bugs-dist-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org