"The U.S. already flunked the test and that should be a wakeup call," a former senior U.S. State Department official told Newsweek.

Armed clashes on the remote, disputed border between Cambodia and Thailand have killed at least 12 people on Thursday, in a dramatic escalation of tensions that threatens to erupt into a broader conflict.

By Shoon Naing, Artorn Pookasook and Susan Heavey SISAKET, Thailand/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday the leaders of Cambodia and Thailand had agreed to meet immediately to quickly work out a ceasefire,

The Thai warning came as the U.S. expressed its grave concern about the most serious fighting in years between the Southeast Asian neighbors. The U.S. and China compete for influence in fast-growing Southeast Asia, and both have good relations with Thailand and Cambodia.

China has dismissed allegations that it was supplying weapons to Cambodia amid its ongoing border conflict with Thailand that has led to at least 33 people dying and hundreds of thousands displaced.

Thailand and Cambodia exchanged heavy artillery fire for a second day on Friday as border fighting intensified and spread, while Cambodia's leader said Thailand had agreed to a Malaysian ceasefire proposal but then backed down.