President Obama says the United States will continue to keep pressure on al-Qaida, even as U.S. forces draw down in Afghanistan.

The president said 33,000 U.S. troops will be out of Afghanistan within a year. Those troops were sent to the country as part of a surge Mr. Obama announced in December 2009. The United States currently has about 100,000 troops in Afghanistan.

Mr. Obama told reporters Wednesday the United States is drawing down its forces in a responsible way. He said the “tide of war is receding” and that the U.S. has shifted to a “transition phase.” He said that will allow Afghanistan to defend itself and give the U.S. the operational capacity to continue to put pressure on al-Qaida until it is defeated. He said the terror network is already severely crippled.

He said the drawdown comes after 10 “very long” years of war.

Separately, on Libya, he said Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi needs to step down to ensure the safety of Libyans.