Mogadishu,AFP-11th Sept.2001

An outbreak of cholera in the southern Somali town of Adale has calimed the lives of 21 people during the past three days, a local social worker said yesterday.

Thirteen of the victims died during the past 24 hours, according to Abukar Arif Adan, a well-known elder in Adale, in the middle Shabelle Region. " The dead were mainly children and women .

Several elderly people also died " Social worker Abukar Arif told AFP through field radio contact.

Adan urged pharmacists to lower the prices of cholera treatments for people affected by the disease .