Italy's 5-Star Movement in bitter row over parliament speaker

Leader of the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement Beppe Grillo (C) gestures as Grillo's Senate leader Vito Crimi (R) and Roberta Lombardi, 5-Star leader in the lower house, stand near during a news conference in Rome April 21, 2013. REUTERS/Remo Casilli

ROME (Reuters) - Italy's anti-establishment 5-Star Movement faced strong criticism on Monday after attacks and online insults against the speaker of the lower house Laura Boldrini, who responded by branding her critics "potential rapists".

Boldrini's retort followed days of escalating tensions in parliament where deputies of Beppe Grillo's Movement, angry over moves to push through approval of government decrees, have blocked committee work and clashed with rival parties.