Yemen's 'deposed' President declares rebel actions 'illegitimate' post escaping house arrest

Yemen's deposed President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi has reportedly accused Shia Houthi rebels, who seized power last month, of staging a "coup."

Hadi declared all measures taken by the Houthis as "null and illegitimate" in his first statement since escaping house arrest in the capital city of Sanaa, the BBC reported.

Speaking from political stronghold in the southern city of Aden, he asserted that he was still the President and urged world powers to "reject the coup."

Hadi had spent weeks under house arrest in Sanaa after being forced to resign by Houthi rebels.

He escaped a day after rival parties approved the formation of a governing transitional council.

Yemen plunged into crisis after Houthis, a Shia group took over the nation and ousted the president.