9 An early form of sextant (9)
10 Assumption made for the purpose of argument (5)
11 Long narrow flat-bottomed boat propelled by sculling, traditionally used on canals of Venice (7)
12 Member of a European military unit formerly composed of heavily armed cavalrymen (7)
13 First Greek letter (5)
14 Plucked with the finger (of instruments in the violin family) (9)
16 A phrase first used in the 1840s to denote the understanding between France and Britain (7,8)
19 Inflammation of the liver caused by a virus or a toxin (9)
21 Small homopterous insect that sucks plant juices (5)
22 French for "hello" (7)
23 Lover of Cressida (7)
24 A sharp narrow ridge found in rugged glaciated mountains (5)
25 An ancient wedge-shaped script used in Mesopotamia and Persia (9)

1 Asian republic which became independent in 1971 (10)
2 Hold firm to one's ideas; not draw cards in poker (5,3)
3 Capital of Columbia (6)
4 Indonesian island; programming language used to write applets (4)
5 A meeting planned at a certain time and place (10)
6 Tropical tree with yellow flowers and long brown seed pods (8)
7 Plant with clusters of yellow flowers (6)
8 The last word of the Bible (4)
14 A self-governing island associated with the United States (6,4)
15 Magical command used by Ali Baba (4,6)
17 Common non-metallic element that is normally a colourlessodourlesss tasteless inert diatomic gas (8)
18 The point in the orbit of a planet or comet that is at the greatest distance from the sun (8)
20 A small light basket used as a measure for fruits (6)
21 Sightlessness (especially because of a structural defect in or the absence of an eye) (6)
22 Scottish for fine, grand-loking (4)
23 Food fish related to the mackerel (4)