Standard Cryptic 15 x 15 - April 2003

Clues - Across

1. Playthings up to now unsurpassed? (7)

5. African currency everyone rejected for the mark (7)

9. Little bit of World War Four (5)

10. Concerted initiatives (9)

11. Cowardly bird gets caught first (6)

12. Clown, rather unpleasant, getting laid off (8)

14. Amin reverting to type (5)

15. It may be true, perhaps, out East there's no middle class - it's elemental (9)

18. Old consort would enter it if ordered (9)

20. Minister beheaded for crime (5)

22. Band outside may love a style of singing (3-5)

24. Business man with a cigar (6)

26. A penny-pincher motorist bought this for his car (5-4)

27. Although it's quite rainy, carries a sun-hat (5)

28. A poet's last words keep recurring here (7)

29. Heat can dry middle of sheet put through wringer (7)

Clues - Down

1. Editing material for socialist movement (9)

2. Bread man had at lunchtime, perhaps (7)

3. A person considering a road safety device (9)

4. Finding a way around company tax (4)

5. Breaking out of thin cover, a deer (10)

6. Bit of information given to Caesar (5)

7. Knowledge of flowers having a fatal attraction (7)

8. As shown in score, very inconclusive attack (5)

13. Leader of old feminists provides Italy with stars (10)

16. Study chosen and taken up again (9)

17. Fix a large settlement for slander (9)

19. Changes following a note and seems hesitant (7)

21. Odds on gold went swiftly into the pouch (7)

22. Apparently goes in for punting in Cambridge (5)

23. I join up with Father coming back, and get support (5)

25. A bird others turn to? (4)