UN Security Council renews Burundi mission amid political crisis

Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza attends the opening of a coffee conference in the capital Bujumbura February 13, 2014. REUTERS/Jean Pierre Aime Harerimana

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council on Thursday extended a U.N. political mission in Burundi until the end of the year, despite initial government opposition amid the worst political crisis in the East African country since a 12-year civil war ended in 2005.

Burundi had wanted the world body to leave within six months of the February 15 expiry of the mission's mandate, arguing it would demonstrate the country's political maturity and encourage investment in the world's fourth most aid-dependent state.