Leaked recording deepens divisions in Turks' views of Erdogan

A protester uses a slingshot as they clash with riot police during a demonstration against Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul February 25, 2014. REUTERS/Cevahir Bugu

ISTANBUL/ANKARA (Reuters) - Turks in the conservative Istanbul district where Tayyip Erdogan grew up stood defiantly by their prime minister on Wednesday in the face of a voice recording purportedly of him warning his son to hide large sums of money.

The mood contrasted sharply with one of outrage in areas where Erdogan enjoys less support, illustrating the deepening polarisation of a country which his AK Party has ruled since 2002, presiding over a decade of growing prosperity.