The Times - Cryptic - Times Saturday 24724 - December 18, 2010

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Clues Answers
Abacus, for one, that may prove you wrong COUNTEREXAMPLE
Become less popular making visit DROPIN
Composer's skin seen to roll back and drop off FALLASLEEP
Copper's patrol to start with end of crescent CUSP
Currently employed, but inevitably a bad choice here NOWINSITUATION
Driver slows for these, a result of coming up too fast THEBENDS
Extraordinarily successful conker, one going for gold? FORTYNINER
Fish here as wintry downpour is shortly to recede EELS
For a start, magistrate cannot let out trouble-maker MALCONTENT
From edges of arena, run over to catch country musician AARONCOPLAND
Get stick out to face European invader JUTE
Girl in a love affair? No way ALISON
I had backed horse full of energy and character IDEOGRAM
I must support a religious leader without need of evidence APRIORI
Clues Answers
In favour of locks in well-defended places FORTRESSES
Just the food for growing lad, say? PROTEIN
Killer one's resolutely bitten BULLET
Local man's badge manufactured on-site FAVOURITESON
One creating copies of The Times, say, without leader APER
One growing up as prison child STALAGMITE
One taking great interest in seizing power USURPER
One's picked up paper to sort SIFT
Perhaps Prospero's island toured by players CABALIST
Persistent rhythm: to be taken up, please beat it like this OSTINATO
Shakespeare's cutter departs wearing hat BOWDLER
Starchy food in pack finally nibbled TARO
Unrest follows this promotion? PREFERMENT
Unseen millions went begging MASKED