ANKARA (AP) ― Turkey’s prime minister on Saturday called on France to shed light on the slaying of three Kurdish activists in Paris and said French President Francois Hollande should explain why he met with militants wanted by Turkey.

The three activists, including the founding member of the autonomy-seeking Kurdish rebel group, were found shot dead on Thursday, at a time when their jailed leader is holding peace talks with Turkey.

The killings stunned the Kurdish community in Europe. Kurdish activists have accused Turkey of the slayings, while Turkish officials suggested the killings may be part of an internal feud or an attempt to derail the peace talks.

The slayings also puts France in a difficult position as it tries to improve ties with Turkey. Turkey and its U.S. and European allies have labeled the group, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, a terrorist organization. But Turkey frequently accuses France and other European nations of not cooperating in its struggle against the rebel group and of failing to extradite wanted militants.

“How can one regularly meet with someone that is a member of an organization that has been declared a terror organization by the European Union and is wanted by a warrant?” Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.

It was in response to comments by Hollande who said he and several other politicians knew one of the women professionally. He did not say which one.

“The head of state of France should immediately explain to the French and Turkish publics and the world why he met with members of this terror group, what he discussed and under which conditions he is in communication with these terrorists,” Erdogan said.

France must “immediately shed light (on the crime), immediately find the culprits and leave no question marks,” Erdogan said.