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NEW DELHI, Dec 18 (AFP) - India was set to spell out its response Tuesday to last week's suicide attack on parliament, amid domestic pressure to act against alleged terrorist camps in Pakistan and international fears of a South Asian conflict.

The first detailed government statement of facts and intent regarding the December 13 attack was to be delivered in parliament by Home Minister L.K. Advani.

Advani made it clear on Monday that the government was "seriously considering all options," including possible strikes against camps in Pakistan.

Concern that the rising tensions between India and Pakistan could escalate into a full-blown conflict, prompted an appeal from the United States for the South Asian nuclear rivals to tone down their rhetoric.

"We are concerned," said US Secretary of State Colin Powell.

"We would not wish to see this escalate to a direct exchange between the two nations going after each other, as opposed to going after a common enemy, which is terrorist organizations that conduct these kinds of horrible, horrible attacks."

Five gunmen were killed in the assault on parliament, which left eight others dead, most of them security personnel. India says the operation was backed by Pakistani military intelligence and executed by two Pakistan-based Islamic guerrilla groups

Pakistan condemned the attack, denied the involvement of its secret services and warned India against any reprisal.

While noting that both countries were "acting responsibly" thus far, Powell said he hoped the situation would not turn "critical."

"I hope the degree of calmness that we have seen and degree of patience that we have seen sustains for quite a bit longer so that the situation doesn't become critical."

Prior to Advani's statement in parliament, members of the ruling Hindu nationalist BJP party were also scheduled to meet.

BJP legislators have been among the most vocal in their demand for an aggressive response from the government, including strikes on camps in Pakistan and a policy change that would allow Indian security forces to pursue Muslim militants over the disputed Kashmir border with Pakistan.

"Proper action has to be taken," BJP MP Jitendra Reddy said Tuesday. "We will continue to press our demands." 

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