TRIPOLI (AFP) - Washington respects the right of Libyans to decide their own future, a senior US official said Wednesday in Tripoli, as the African Union pushed for an inclusive government after Muamer Gaddafis ouster. The United States respects Libyas sovereignty, said Jeffrey Feltman, the highest ranking US official to visit the Libyan capital since its capture from Gaddafis forces on August 23. A guideline of our partnership with the Libyan people will be always be respect for Libyas independence and sovereignty, the assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs told a news conference. This is a victory by the Libyan people and Libyas destiny must be decided by Libyans alone, he said after meeting the head of Libyas National Transitional Council, Mustafa Abdel Jalil. His visit came as a top-level team from the African Union, which has refused to recognise the NTC, was preparing to discuss ways to press for an inclusive government in Libya at a gathering in Pretoria, South Africa. Feltman paid tribute to the work of NTC in overseeing the transition from Gaddafis 42 years of iron-fisted rule. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, he said, had been reassured by a statement issued by the NTC on Tuesday in which it renewed its commitment to respecting human rights and promised to investigation allegations of abuses following a damning report by Amnesty International. I told chairman Jalil that Secretary Clinton particularly welcomed his recent restatements of the (NTCs) commitments to human rights, reconciliation and to inclusive transition progress, recognising the important roles of women and youth. Another group, the Mali-based Defence of Foreigners in Libya, on Wednesday accused Libyas new authorities of jailing and torturing some 300 foreigners.