UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. and the Arab League have extended the mission of their joint envoy to Syria through the end of the year, despite the lack of progress in international efforts to end a civil war that has killed at least 60,000 people.

Lakhdar Brahimi’s contract was due to expire Friday. It has been renewed through the rest of 2013, U.N. spokesman Martin Nesirky said Thursday.