Three years after the start of its revolt for democracy, the capital was shaken Friday by four deadly bombings, in the clearest sign yet that Egypt is entering a prolonged and violent struggle between the military-backed government and a growing Islamist insurgency.<\/p>\n
The bombs, scattered around the city and aimed at the police, killed six people and left in their aftermath a grim realization that a cycle of terrorism and repression is hardening the determination of each side to fight to the death, all but extinguishing the three-year-old dream of an inclusive democracy and open debate.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe timing is a message that the third anniversary of the revolution will not be a celebration; they want to color it with blood,\u201d\u009d said Moataz Abdel-Fattah, a political scientist at the American University of Cairo. \u201cAnd it will only darken the political waters, with more people calling for a hard-line stance against the Muslim Brotherhood and their supporters.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n