U.S. calls alleged Syria torture photos 'extremely disturbing'

The U.S. says that gruesome photos that may prove torture by Syria's Assad regime are "extremely disturbing."

CNN reported exclusively on the story Monday; a team of internationally renowned war crimes prosecutors and forensic experts say they have found "direct evidence" of "systematic torture and killing" by the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

"These latest reports that you referenced, and the photos that support them, suggest widespread and apparently systematic violations by the regime in an effort not only to deny freedom and dignity to the Syrian people but also to inflict significant and physical pain in the process," State Department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf told CNN on Tuesday.

"As we have said before, the Syrian regime is responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity. These most recent images I think presented by your network first, are extremely disturbing."

"They are horrible to look at and they illustrate apparent actions that would be serious international crimes and we have long said that those responsible for these kind of serious violations in Syria must be held to account."