The Guardian - Cryptic crossword No 23,667 - Jan 19 2006

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Clues Answers
24 natives pick up Soldier John, a ruffian HOOLIGAN
Admirer of Iron Maiden's 'Number One Sausage'? HEADBANGER
Appear nervous, supplying toe of newt to necromancer TWITCH
Bad-mouth fresh crepe garnished with fruit DEPRECATE
Drinks to the closure of 'Spare Rib' TEASE
Earnest request for sportsperson to change sides PRAYER
Extract hypothetical element (deuterium) and accidentally gas the police with it DEPHLOGISTICATE
Fighting talk from European vermin (tailless) POLEMIC
Germany's head correct about Germany? Only joking! GEDDIT
Impose restrictions on tea in leaderless African country ENCHAIN
Language of novelist in church CHINESE
Looking up excerpt about Nabokov's language BANTU
Means of suppressing dreadful shame and panic - seem cold ESCAPEMECHANISM
Must dialectal Scandinavian be so dull? MUNDANE
Clues Answers
No more drinks on the magazine! TIME
On which to play song about fruit? On the contrary MELODEON
One big, bland, blundering improvisation ADLIBBING
Orthodox priest taking pot shot at compiler ESTABLISHED
Plug for Sunday hat STOPPER
Produce fertiliser concealing universal truth MANUFACTURE
Recording of heartbeat broadcast during reception in New York? TICKERTAPE
Ruler beginning to sink in pitch TSAR
Shed puts paid to the island ISLAY
Stand that is designed as an alternative INSTEAD
Twist of fate secures booze for East End pickpocket TEALEAF
Weather-beaten but carpeted? RUGGED
Wrap up the players on time BANDAGE
Zeus's lover had returned in state IDAHO