UNITED NATIONS, April 13 (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council extended by one month on Friday the mandate of its 17,000-strong peace-keeping mission in Democratic Republic of Congo, the world's largest such force.

The short rollover is because diplomats are negotiating a seven-page resolution, drawn up by France, on the mandate of the force following elections last October, diplomats said. The newly approved mandate will expire on May 15.

Those elections, won by President Joseph Kabila, aimed to restore peace to the vast central African country following a devastating war from 1998-2003.

But violence has continued. Up to 600 people were killed in fighting in Kinshasa last month between the army and forces loyal to defeated presidential candidate Jean-Pierre Bemba.

The U.N. force, known by its French acronym MONUC, first deployed in Congo in 1999. Since then, 98 peace-keepers have been killed.

A brief Security Council resolution said the situation in Congo "continues to pose a threat to international peace and security in the region".

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