WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama said Friday that his country has deployed about 100 military personnel to the West African country of Niger.

Obama said the deployment "will provide support for intelligence collection and will also facilitate intelligence sharing with French forces conducting operations in Mali and with other partners in the region."

In a letter to the Congress, Obama said the last element of the deployment was completed on Wednesday, and the deployment was with the consent of the government of Niger.

The president added the US troops are equipped with weapons for their protection and security.