Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa has attributed a controversial statement that 80% of the more than 900,000 Syrians in Germany should go back home within three years to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Merz made the announcement during al-Sharaa's visit to Germany on Monday, and clarified a day later that "the figure of 80% returnees within three years was cited by the Syrian president."

The comment has produced hefty criticism of Merz from across the political spectrum.

Speaking at an event in London on Tuesday evening, al-Sharaa rejected Merz's latest claim.

During the Chatham House gathering, the moderator asked al-Sharaa whether the 80% figure came from him.

According to the organizer's translation, the Syrian leader replied that the statement was somewhat exaggerated. He said it was not he, but the chancellor who had said this. The Arabic original of the statement was initially not available.

Al-Sharaa went on to say that the return of Syrian refugees was linked to rebuilding in the country. He said enough jobs would have to be created and foreign companies attracted. The return of refugees would have to be organized. If the right circumstances were created then he would guarantee that 80% of people would return to their country, to Syria, according to the translation.

Critics were quick to warn that returning hundreds of thousands of Syrians living in Germany on such a short time frame would be extremely complicated.

The importance of Syrian workers to the German economy has also been underlined, while some lawmakers warned that missing the high-profile 80% target would provide further fodder for the far right.