From a tearful start on Thursday, convicted drug trafficker Glenn Agliotti seemed to cheer up during cross examination in the corruption trial of former top cop Jackie Selebi.

Testifying for the State in the Johannesburg High Court in the morning, Agliotti ? dressed a rose shirt, pink and grey striped tie and charcoal suit ? broke down in tears at having to testify against his former friend.

"My Lord, it's not easy being here. I didn't want to be here to testify against my then friend and the accused," he said.

While later Agliotti would enthusiastically embrace defence lawyer Jaap Cilliers' suggestion that Selebi and him were "kind hearted" kindred spirits, prosecutor Gerrie Nel got no kind words.

Instead Agliotti expressed his disdain for Nel.

"I don't particularly like Mr Nel and I say that with respect. I believe the accused doesn't like Mr Nel and I don't think many people that I know like Mr Nel, and I say that with respect," Agliotti said shortly before breaking down in tears.

Judge Meyer Joffe briefly adjourned court to allow him to compose himself.

When testimony resumed, Agliotti explained that an affidavit, signed in January last year ? in which he criticised the Scorpions' handling of his case ? was an attempt to keep him and Selebi out of court.

The Scorpions

He said he had hoped to play on what he believed to be the National Intelligence Agency's (NIA) perceived dislike of the Scorpions.

"I thought it would be in both of our [his and Selebi's] interests to give the NIA a version that they wanted to hear."

Agliotti told the court the affidavit was handed to former intelligence boss Manala Manzini, NIA deputy director general Arthur Fraser and police commissioner Mulangi Mphego.

"I wanted somebody to hear my side of the story... in order to try and secure a deal for myself," Agliotti said, admitting some of the affidavit's content was not factual.

The kind of deal he hoped to secure would have ensured "that we wouldn't be standing here today, that is what I was hoping for, that this matter wouldn't go further".

This affidavit was used by Selebi in 2008 in an unsuccessful attempt to have the charges against him dropped.

Nevertheless, Selebi seemed to have little sympathy on Thursday with the man he once called his "friend, finish and klaar", remarking to reporters that Agliotti would "need a box of tissues" during cross examination.

However, once the highly anticipated cross examination got underway in the early afternoon Agliotti agreed with almost everything defence lawyer Jaap Cilliers put to him.

Cilliers' suggestion that Selebi and Agliotti were fighting against prosecutors that were hatching "absurd" plots against them found great favour with Agliotti.

"He [Selebi] regarded you [Agliotti] based on the picture you portrayed that you were actually a very kind-hearted man and that you really involved yourself into welfare issues and charity as well," Cilliers said.

"My instructions are, Mr Agliotti, that is actually the real point where your relationship with the accused developed. He was also a man passionate with helping the needy, helping the refugees, the people who suffer. That was really the issue you and the accused had in common," said Cilliers.

Agliotti nodded in agreement.

On page two, read how Agliotti is not a "big mafia-type crime leader"...