Ft 12965

[safflower]

5d 3 (tulip) rebuilt an Asian capital (7)? t - - - r - -.
24a Customary rules requiring order either way, needing N in Scrabble (6,3) ? - -m - o -/- - -. Is this common law?
26a Girl appearing in nude in song (9)? b - r - a - - - e.
I must be tired.

[BigDave44]

26a Bar carol e

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=CSLEKooD-rY

[dr b]

53d, teher+an (anag of 3 - three)

[dr b]

sorry, 5d

[safflower]

Of course, thank you BigDave44 and dr b. Any ideas on 24a?

[BigDave44]

How did you get on with this ?

I downloaded the puzzle and completed it, and can explain all the answers except for 24a. I have C?M?O? L?W, so common law looks pretty certain. Perhaps there's someone out there that can explain the word play.

[Lie-in King]

May I?..

24a Common law = 'rules' - O(rder of) M(erit) (both ways), in 'claw' (Scrabble) + N

[BigDave44]

What chance did I, a mere mortal, have ???