Chadians advance in Mali troop moves, U.S. helps with airlift

NIAMEY/BAMAKO (Reuters) - Chadian forces advanced towards the Malian border on Tuesday as an African troop deployment and a U.S. military airlift swelled international support for French operations against Islamist rebels occupying the north of Mali.

An armoured column of Chadian troops, experienced in desert operations, moved north from the Niger capital Niamey on the road to Ouallam, some 100 km (60 miles) from the Malian border, where Nigerien troops are already stationed.