No 9926, Friday 20 Aug 10, Sankalak

ACROSS
1   - A trader in rehab's heard spluttering (11) - HABERDASHER*
9   - Faraway soldier's group not in position (7) - {OUT}{POST}
10 - Tried to deal with ropes and pulleys, died (7) - {TACKLE}{D}
11 - Greek character at the river mouth (5) - DELTA [DD]

12 - Does it bring a breath of fresh air to a star? (3,6) - FAN LETTER [CD] This is the closest word I could think of, but why fresh air?
13 - Soldier and engineer combine to mock and scoff (4) - {GI}{BE}
15 - Type of crystal to confound doctor no end (7) - {DEN{DR}ON*}

19 - Conservative chap receives greeting from a brute (7) - {C}{AVE}{MAN}

20 - Short request for prompt action (1,1,1,1) - A S A P [E]
24 - Part of the sleeve that binds wart somehow (9) - WRISTBAND*
25 - Mischievous like some cruel finaglers (5) - ELFIN [T]
27 - Roman goddess found pitman initially very attractive (7) - {MINER}{V}{A}
28 - The beginning of a name (7) - INITIAL [CD]
29 - Where you could sweat it out in Ankara? (7,4) - TURKISH BATH [CD]
DOWN
1   - Prone to anger, the Spanish get a place to stop (5) - {HOT}{EL}
2   - Born friend goes around head office in State capital (6) - {B}{HO}{PAL}
3   - Give assent to a deserter provided youth leader follows (6) - {RAT}{IF}{Y}
4   - A time to make a bid for one who waits (8) - {A}{T}{TENDER}
5   - Large estate and home that had a nice build-up (8) - HACIENDA*
6   - Brothers, sisters and so on (9) - RELATIONS [CD]
7   - The captivity that Maugham wrote about (7) - BONDAGE [CD]
8   - Decorate British sailors after a party (5) - {A}{DO}{RN}
14 - Edible thing that Liza burnt accidentally (6,3) - BRAZIL NUT*

16 - His job is to talk to students! (8) - LECTURER [E]
17 - Queen, big one in India (8) - MAHARANI [CD]
18 - It can spin a yarn (7) - SPINDLE [CD]
21 - Vivekananda, for one (5) - SWAMI [CD]
22 - Somewhat unusual to find something to eat after party is over (6) - {OD<-}{DISH}
23 - Change in gear for a ruler (6) - REGINA*
26 - Trust in religion (5) - FAITH [DD]

GRID