ACROSS

1 Temporary difficulty (5) 8 Go on a spree (4,2,2) 9 Approach under cover (5) 10 Utterly exhausted (5,3) 11 Postpone (5) 12 Prefix for new (3) 16 Southeast African country (6) 17 Loiter (6) 18 A cover (3) 23 Traitor (5)

24 Naturally (2,6)

25 Cheerful (5)

26 Alone (2,6)

27 Sordid (5)

DOWN

2 Virtually assured (2,3,3) 3 Blind alley (32-3) 4 Holy (6) 5 State of high excitement (5) 6 Lower oneself morally (5) 7 Flood (5) 12 Zero (3) 13 Aged (3)

14 From now on (2,6)

15 In each year (3,5)

19 Treat with contempt (6)

20 Leisure pursuit (5)

21 Pungent (5)

22 Overly decorative (5)