KINSHASA, March 15 (Xinhuanet) -- The general elections scheduled for June 18 in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) face no major obstacles, UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Jean-Marie Guehenno said here on Wednesday.

    He called on the DRC people to seize the historic opportunity in carrying out the first democratic polls in the Central African country in 45 years

    Guehenno, who wrapped up his ten-day visit to the DRC on Wednesday evening, said democratic elections are conducive to producing a responsible government and curbing corruption and violence plaguing the country.

    He expressed the hope that the elections would be held in an atmosphere of calm and tolerance.

    The official added that destructive activities by militias and foreign armed groups in the east of the country have dropped considerably as compared with two years ago.

    He went to say that it is necessary to reform the DRC's armed and police forces under the the current security situation.

    Meanwhile, he urged the DRC government to take measures to build an army force that is well-trained, professionalized, well-treated and knows how to respect human rights.

    A 1998-2003 civil war in the DRC left nearly 4 million people dead. Various militias are still fighting in the mineral-rich east. The country now hosts nearly 17,000 UN peacekeepers, the largest dispatch by the world body. Enditem