Turkey problems must be solved lawfully-president

ISTANBUL Feb 25 (Reuters) - Turkey's problems must be solved within the constitution, the country's president said in a statement on Thursday after meeting with the prime minister and army chief to discuss strains between the military and the government.

Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and President Abdullah Gul held a three-hour meeting with the head of the armed forces General Ilker Basbug in an attempt to defuse tensions, sparked by the detention of high ranking military officials on suspicion of plotting to overthrow the government.

(Reporting by Daren Butler; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)