The UN Security Council on Monday implored Burundi's government to reopen talks with the opposition as violence in the country threatens to spiral out of control.

France called an emergency meeting of the 15-member council to address the worsening violence in the central African country. The Council backed Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's plan to send a senior UN official on an urgent mission to ease the crisis.

"Council members expressed deep concern on the political and security situation in Burundi and called for the immediate resumption of inclusive dialogue in order to achieve a lasting peace," Nigerian Ambassador Joy Ogwu told reporters following the meeting.

Ogwu, whose country currently holds the Council presidency, said the envoy would be sent soon.

Human rights activist Pierre-Claver Mbonimpa recently survived an assassination attempt

The recent killing of top general Adolphe Nshimirimana, and the attempted murder of human rights activist Pierre-Claver Mbonimpa have been seen as a dangerous escalation in the conflict that was sparked by President Pierre Nkurunziza's bid for a third term in office.

Nkurunziza's opponents say he is constitutionally barred from seeking a third term. The Burundian president was declared the outright winner of elections last month that were condemned internationally as illegitimate.

Talks between the government and the opposition broke down on July 19.

At least 94 people have been killed since the crisis began after Nkurunziza announced his bid for a third term in April, according to UN rights official Ivan Simonovic.

Simonivic spoke of a "new, worrying trend of killing of ruling party members" targeted for reprisals following the election. He said about 600 people have been arrested or detained and told the UN Security Council of some 40 cases of torture during police custody that had been reported.

The United States has threatened to impose sanctions including travel bans on those it deems responsible for the violence.

bw/gsw (AP, AFP)