South Africa and the United Kingdom should commemorate the centenary of the Anglo-Boer South African war in a spirit of reconciliation, Queen Elizabeth II said in Pretoria on November 10 in Johannesburg

"We should remember with sadness the loss of life and sufferings, not only of British or Boer soldiers, but of all those caught up in the war -- black and white, men, women and children," she said at a state banquet held in her honor at the presidential guest house.

"No one who reads of the distressing conditions in the detention camps which held both black and white detainees could fail to be moved, even today, 100 years later," she was quoted by the South African Press Association as saying.

The centenary of this war should be commemorated in a spirit of reconciliation, she said.

It is estimated that about 24,000 women and children died in the British concentration camps during the war.

Earlier Wednesday, a group of protesters gathered outside the Union Buildings where the Queen met President Thabo Mbeki. They waved placards demanding an apology from the Queen for the war.

Addressing the banquet, Mbeki said that "as South Africans we have approached the Anglo-Boer South African War centenary in a spirit of reconciliation and nation building. Long divided by racism, we now have the opportunity and possibility to unite and together say -- 'Never again should our country fall victim to war'."

The two countries had a complex history which had led to the establishment of intricate relations between them, Mbeki said.

He said the relationship between South Africa and the United Kingdom is almost two centuries old and at times it was a tempestuous one.

"Our people have fought against each other, as they have also fought together against a common enemy," he said referring to the Anglo-Boer South African War and the first and second world wars.

The Queen said it is important not to forget the painful events in the two countries' shared history.

"But it is better still to find encouragement in the close ties which bind our countries together," she said.

She said these ties have found expression in strong commercial and investment links, the number of Britons who are living in the country and the sporting relationships between the two countries.

South Africa and the United Kingdom share many characteristics, she said, noting that both countries are home to people from many different cultures and to a generation whose views are not formed by the great conflicts that shaped the lives of older generations.

"South Africa is set fair RETRAINING CONNECT 2400/LAPM to become a symbol of how African countries can combine democratic accountability, economic success and improved living standards," she said.

Referring to the African renaissance, the Queen said she has seen positive change taking root in South Africa, Ghana, Mozambique and elsewhere on the continent.

She stopped over at Ghana en-route to South Africa and will visit Mozambique shortly.

The Queen and her husband arrived in South Africa on Tuesday night, ahead of the Commonwealth summit, due to start on Friday in Durban.