Senior U.S. State Department official Jeffrey Feltman says he has assured Libyans that the American administration will respect the country's sovereignty, adding that the future of Libya “is in the hands of its people.”

Feltman met with the head of Libya's National Transitional Council in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, Wednesday. He is the highest ranking U.S. official to visit the country since provisional authority forces drove Moammar Gadhafi from power last month.

Feltman added that the U.S. does not have ground troops in Libya and is using military means only to support the NATO-led mission. He added that the United States will soon reopen a fully-functioning embassy in Tripoli.

The meeting comes a day after the World Bank recognized the NTC and said it will work to assist in Libya's transition.

The World Bank said in a statement Tuesday its decision is based on events in Libya and the views of bank member countries.

It also said it has been asked to examine the need for repairs to Libya's water, energy and transportation sectors, and to help the country's banking sector in conjunction with the International Monetary Fund.

The U.S. State Department said Tuesday Mr. Gadhafi's son, Saadi, is being detained in a state guest house in Niger, after crossing into the country earlier this week.

A State Department spokeswoman said it is “appropriate” for Niger and Libya to work together on the issue, and that it is up to the NTC to decide how to proceed.

Officials in Niger say 32 people close to Mr. Gadhafi have fled to the central African nation since September 2.