Cryptic crossword - The Scotsman 01/02/13

ACROSS

1 Start off chains with something raised on the back of the neck (7)

5 Artery supplying iron on principle (7)

9 Journey to oil-producing city in Middle East (7)

10 Bounder to swear on dead body (7)

11 Constant struggle to get pup to relate (9)

12 The best mashed potato (5) 13 Records spate of riots (5)

15 Cross swords to get hold of magazine (4,5)

16 Stars accompanied by lawyer from Italian capital (9)

18 Brush over church seating with extra energy (5)

21 French king whose soul I entered and disturbed (5)

22 Music for The Onedin Line, say, being principal topic (4,5)

24 Disengage from quarrel I eventually got involved in (7)

26 Paris fashionista using dark crystals? (7)

27 Do any seek to convert Americans? (7)

DOWN

1 Top shot went off in centre of activity (7)

2 Tweet a casual exhortation not to be so glum (7)

3 Unbagged sugar procured in Cornish fishing port (5)

4 Excite feelings that provoke parliament to sack spy chief (4,2,3,6)

5 Come to terms, as it were, with a scam — looking gloomy (4,4,1,6)

6 Man of decision leads music festival (3)

7 Drool over what first enquiry uncovers (7)

8 As a joke, put Indian coin in Victorian dish (4,3)

12 Flaws in French fries (5)

14 What sauce, breaking into emergency call from the mall! (5)

16 Reaction to pollen, for example, is largely contrived (7)

17 Instrument girl sounds on glacial mound (7)

19 Recluse appears before little one (7)

20 Emily Dickinson, perhaps, taking faltering steps about Old English (7)

23 Slimy creature eating rice initially in Homeric region (5)

25 What a sheep you are, by all accounts! (3)

28 Eternity does not stop short (7)

Thursday’s solution

Across: 8 Crackpot, 9 Acumen, 10 Rebuke, 11 Magnetic, 12 Idea, 13 Distribute, 15 Camelot, 17 Avocado, 20 Ungrateful, 22 Mode, 24 Customer, 26 Talent, 27 Scared, 28 Noontide.

Down: 1 Friend, 2 Accurate, 3 Spreads out, 4 Itemise, 5 Gang, 6 Superb, 7 Mediated, 14 Revolution, 16 Announce, 18 Complete, 19 Affront, 21 Return, 23 Denude, 25 Made.