ADEN, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Saudi-backed Yemeni government accused the Southern Transitional Council (STC) forces of staging a coup in the southern port city of Aden after seizing the country's presidential palace on Saturday.
The statement revealed by the Yemeni Foreign Ministry described what happened in Aden as another coup staged by the STC forces against the country's constitutional legitimacy with direct support from a regional power.
"What's happening in the temporary capital of Aden by the Southern Transitional Council is a coup against the institutions of the internationally recognized government," said the statement obtained by Xinhua.
The Yemeni government held the STC and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a key partner of Saudi-led coalition, full responsible for the consequences of staging the coup against the legitimate authorities in Aden.
It also called on "the UAE to immediately and completely stop providing financial and military support to the rebel groups in Aden."
However, the UAE has expressed deep concern over the continuation of armed confrontations in Aden, calling for calm, de-escalation and maintaining the security and safety of Yemen's citizens.
Earlier in the day, forces of the STC managed to seize Yemen's presidential palace and all the government military bases in Aden following four days of intense fighting in the city.
The southern port city of Aden is almost entirely under the control of the STC forces that are also allied to the Saudi Arabia-led coalition in the fighting against the Houthis.
Aden's fighting started when senior leaders of the STC accused the Saudi-backed Yemeni government of "backing Islamists and leaking information to the Iran-backed Houthis" who targeted an army base in Aden last week, killing scores of soldiers including commanders.
The STC threatened "to seize the presidential palace and expel all the members of the Saudi-backed Yemeni government who are linked to Muslim Brotherhood parties."
The Saudi-backed Yemeni government issued a statement and held the STC fully responsible for destabilizing the situation in Aden and fomenting trouble in the southern regions.
On Wednesday, the UN Special Envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths expressed deep concerns over a military escalation in Aden and called on the parties involved to abandon violence and engage in dialogue to resolve differences.
Considered Yemen's temporary capital, Aden is where the Saudi-backed Yemeni government has based itself since 2015.
The impoverished Arab country has been locked in a civil war since late 2014, when the Houthis overran much of the country and seized all northern provinces, including the capital Sanaa.
