(April 6, 2006)--One of Saddam Hussein's co-defendants seemed nervous Thursday as he testified about a deadly Shiite crackdown in the 1980's.

It was the former Iraqi judge's second round of cross-examination in the case involving the deaths of 148 Shiites.

He testified that the suspects had confessed and received a fair trial, but he also acknowledged that the scores of defendants had only one court-assigned defense attorney among them.

Prosecutors are trying to show that Saddam's Revolutionary Court gave the suspects only a cursory trial on charges of attempting to assassinate him.

They contend Saddam approved the executions even though many of them had nothing to do with the shooting attack.

Saddam was cross-examined for the first time Wednesday.

He admitted approving death sentences against Shiites in the 1980s, but he told the Baghdad court he "was convinced the evidence that was presented was sufficient" to prove they were guilty of an assassination attempt against him.

The chief prosecutor asked Saddam if he knew that 28 of the executed were under 18.

The prosecutor showed I-D cards for some of the executed minors.

Saddam said such cards are easily faked, saying he could come up with an ID saying a victim was 25.

Saddam and the seven other defendants face execution themselves if convicted.

After Thursday’s brief session, the Baghdad trial adjourned until April 12.