Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohammed has denied reports that he said the number of Kenyan soldiers who died in the El-Adde attack could be 200.
Through his spokesman, Mr Daud Awesh, the Somalia President defended himself saying that he was quoted out of context and that he was only describing the size of the camp.
The Somali president is said to have given the figure during an interview with a Somali Cable TV where he was defending his attendance of the memorial service for the slain Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) troops.
Last week, President Sheikh was quoted to have said: "When 180 or close to 200 soldiers who were sent to us are killed in one day in Somalia, it is not easy.
“The soldiers had been sent to help us get peace in our country and their families are convinced that they died while on duty."
Reports indicate that the Somalia Head of State recanted his statement following a protest letter to Mogadishu in which Kenya termed the claims "grossly out of order".
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Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) spokesman David Obonyo dismissed the Somali president's remarks on the figure of the dead soldiers saying they were false.
The Kenya government has not given the official number of casualties who died in the ambush attack, which took place in the middle of January, as the DNA tests have not been completed.
