FACTFINDER’S CROSSWORD

Dear Reader,

As a result of the coronavirus pandemic we are suspending competition entries for all our prize crosswords. Puzzles will continue to appear as normal but no entries will be accepted or prizes given.

We hope to return to normal as soon as possible.

The solution to this week’s Factfinder crossword will appear next Saturday as usual.

Stay safe!

Aross

8 Relating to a country in west Africa (44,310 sq miles; pop about 13 million), independent since 1960 (8)

9 Congratulates, or prides oneself (on) (6)

10 A type of dark igneous rock (6)

11 Konrad __ (1876 - 1967), the first Chancellor

of West Germany (8)

12 An open tract of upland country (4)

13 Large seaport city in north Africa (pop about

6 million), founded in 331 BC (10)

15 Country in western Asia (26,831 sq miles; pop about 5 million), independent since 1991 (7)

17 Small sharks in the family lamnidae (7)

20 Caused to face to the east (10)

22 Dog's-tooth grass (4)

24 One of the minor planets between Mars and

Jupiter (8)

26 Small seaport city in Alaska (pop about

4,000) (6)

27 Soft cheese made from cow or buffalo milk,

common in India, etc (6)

28 One of the principal knights of the Round

Table (8)

Down

1 In a smooth flowing manner (mus) (6)

2 A two-masted, flat-bottomed canal boat (8)

3 The Greek Old Testament (10)

4 Out of date, or coming too late (7)

5 A sharp-pointed fencing weapon (4)

6 An explosive device used for blowing out

doors, etc (6)

7 A volcanic rock found in South America (8) 14 A bird-watcher's term for a siskin (10)

16 High-speed rail service linking London with

a number of continental cities (8)

18 Those constantly annoying other people (8) 19 A support for a stack of hay, etc (7)

21 Cathedral city in south-west England (pop

about 130,000) (6)

23 An American wild cat like a small leopard (6) 25 A tropical plant of the mallow family with

edible pods (4)