President Obama says about 100 U.S. military personnel have been deployed to the African nation of Niger.

In a letter to Congress, Obama says the forces will provide support for "intelligence collection" and "intelligence sharing” with French troops fighting militants in neighboring Mali.

He said 40 U.S. troops arrived Wednesday, with the consent of the government of Niger, bringing the troop total to 100. Obama said the forces are armed, "with weapons for the purpose of providing their own force protection and security."

Read more here: http://blogs.mcclatchydc.com/washington/2013/02/obama-alerts-congress-hes-sent-military-personnel-to-niger-will-help-french-efforts-in-mali.html#storylink=cpy